1998 Joseph Swan Vineyards Zinfandel Frati Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 88 points

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  12/21/2011 - JaynPam wrote: 87 Points

  Not much on the front palatte on this one, but a good back palette. Aged well, but I think I should have drunk this one a year or two ago. I was surprised at the alcohol level...no sign of heat when I drink this. Some blueberry notes.

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  9/8/2009 - DPMc wrote:

  Very much alive for an 11 year old zin. No sign of the 15.6% alchohol. Loads of structure. Interesting and complex. The style is not quite my preference -- a bit tart/acidic, but an obviously well made, ageworthy zin.

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  5/29/2008 - decaturwinedude wrote: 89 Points

  Nose is slightly stewed, but also shows hints of caramel and soy. Soy comes to the forefront with air. Palate is red fruited, some more soy and plum, too. Previous note by Chris B says meaty and gamey on the palate. I agree, it's that too. Rather complex it is. Briary finish that comes to a slightly bitter-chicory?-laden finish. A little less lush fruit and lacks the depth of the '00 and '01 consumed in the last six months. I'd put this last of those three, but damn fine for a 10 year old Swan Zin.

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  6/12/2007 - CO CHRIS wrote:

  15.6% alc...
  
  Not even the slightest hint of bricking or age in the color, throwing a fair amount of sediment...
  
  A nose that I can only described as stewed, blood, sweet cherry fruit, deep with loads of secondary nuances that I'm finding hard to describe - smoke, meaty, almost gamey...becomes outrageously euphoric after 45 minutes or so with spicy driven black fruits tainted by a touch of spiced cocoa...
  
  Sweet fruit, mostly dark, soy, clearly medium bodied with great acidity and slight tannic structure remaining - this isn't a soft, fluffy wine...long and rich finish, all of the tannins and fierceness that WS/WA had in their reviews from 00/01 are nowhere to be seen, this is an interesting and evolved Zinfandel from a vintage I didn't expect to stand up 9 years later. Fun experiment, I'll keep asking for those library lists!! I admire those that post with tasting notes from 15+ year old Zins from Swan...

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