1994 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Harris Kratka Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (3) Median Score: 94 points

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  6/1/2023 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points

  A blend of Zinfandel (78%) and Carignan (22%) from the 7-hectare (17-acre) Harris Kratka Vineyard located at the southern end of Alexander Valley. 14,1% alcohol.
  
  Relatively pale, evolved and very slightly hazy brick-red color with a deep brick-orange hue towards the rim. The nose feels characterful, somewhat phenolic and a bit funky with nuanced, slightly rustic aromas of bretty leather, some ripe strawberry, light sweeter notes of wizened raspberries, a little bit of leafy greenness and autumnal nuances of damp leaves and sous-bois, a hint of crunchy lingonberry and a touch of dark, plummy fruit. The overall feel is pretty old-school, coming across as more like a traditional Bordeaux or Napa Cab rather than a Zin. The wine feels evolved, fine-tuned and a bit funky on the palate with a medium body and somewhat savory flavors of ripe cranberries and phenolic spice, some barnyardy notes of brett, a little bit of leather saddle, light brambly notes of raspberries and blackberries, an autumnal hint of damp leaves and a sweeter touch of wizened black cherries. The high alcohol lends some heat to the palate, but otherwise the wine is relatively focused and sinewy, its high acidity and moderately grippy medium-plus tannins making the overall feel pretty structured. The finish is juicy, savory and quite grippy with a long, complex aftertaste of old leather and barnyard, some autumnal notes of damp leaves and forest floor, a little bit of ripe red plum, light smoky notes of phenolic spice, a hint of crunchy cranberry and a touch of brambly blackberry. The rather high alcohol makes the wine end on a slightly warm note.
  
  An excellent, impressively structured and enjoyably a bit funky Zin that is a textbook example of proper old-school California style of red wine, before virtually all the wines became rich, soft, sweetly-fruited oak bombs. This wine is definitely from California with its noticeable ripeness, relatively high alcohol and bold fruit, yet it is wonderfully old-school with its emphasis on fresh acidity, quite firm tannins and not-that-big body. Furthermore, that small touch of bretty funk only adds to the character and complexity of the wine, without overwhelming any of its finer nuances. I'd say this wine is now at its peak or very near it and it won't really benefit from any further cellaring, but most likely it won't be falling apart in the near future. At just 31€ this has been a steal.

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  10/5/2020 - hadlieh2 Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Old zin turned to Cabernet. Opened less than hour poured into big Cabernet glasses rather than decant. No longer zin fruit but no must either. Very enjoyable- delicious. (Pour carefully - lots of debris)

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  2/2/2008 - mlawren1 wrote: 99 Points

  Great wine, muted at first but then opened up into a mouthful of strawberry and raspberries. Wasn't over sweet.

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