December Zinfandel Tasting

All wines save the Rosenblum were aerated and most were opened at 10 a.m. and rotated into a decanter for about 1 hour prior to being served between 3 and 6 p.m.

• 2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Stellwagen Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  This was the most structured and dense of this first flight, with a black fruit profile complemented by black licorice, allspice, and green peppercorn. Sturdy but not unapproachable, but considerably more open and integrated on day 2. A solid effort from Bedrock but not something I’m going to flip out over. 90-91

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2008 Bogle Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 87 Points

  USA, California

  Bogle Zin was a go-to QPR for years before I got sidetracked into nervy white wines and mailing list snobbery. I picked this out of the flight fairly easily as the least complex wine with the shortest finish, but half our group preferred it to the competition. More a red fruit/tart cherry profile, a little red twizzler action but not overtly sweet, maybe just a tad vinegary on the back end. I found the mid-palate to be hollow in comparison to the other wines. A lot of up-front pleasure here for the price, but as the day went on, the wines in this flight went in opposite directions.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  A more complete wine from nose to finish, with classic dark raspberry, plum and cocoa flavors. Got consistently better with more air. Not a blockbuster like the 07 but a very strong effort, just not the mindblowing QPR it was before. 91-92.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

This flight featured 2 wines with significant % of Carignane and Petite Sirah and 1 that was 100% Zinfandel.

• 2007 Ridge Geyserville 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  I'm getting a little raisin/prune thing on day 2 that I did not notice yesterday, especially on the nose. The vacu-vin stopper was not properly sealed so it might have gotten too much air. The non-Zin components are harmonious and in nice balance but I don't think this is the best rendition of Geyserville, at least not right now. At some level, I crave more high-toned Zin fruit. The bass clef has been handled with deft and sophistication, but the melody is a little pedestrian. Overall I think I prefer to hold the 07 Lytton Springs than drink the 07 Geyserville. 89-90

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 2007 Woodside Vineyards Zinfandel Estate 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  A new discovery and thus a major headline from this tasting as this was a very delicious wine and one very distinct from all the other wines served today. This wine stuck out from the other 2 wines being served in this flight with its Cabernet like cassis, earth and tobacco notes and comparatively understated structure. Driven by forward, ripe fruit but not jammy or glossy. 14.5% abv. There are no leftovers to try on day 2. This wine will please the table and be relatively versatile for a Zin. Not one to age IMO. A little stewed olive/prune component kept this from being truly great.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2008 Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo's Heirloom 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Similar to the Ridge, with slightly more mineral complexity and tannic grip, but also with more spicy fun fruit showing. Not much change on day 2. Should be spectacular in 2 years. I preferred the Bedrock Heirloom to this, but both turned out to be worthy QPR wines. 90-91.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Hartford / Hartford Court Zinfandel Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  A solid effort, better than my previous experience, but nor was it a distinctive, world-class wine like its price point demands. The Hartford house cooper shows itself here; it happens to be a good choice to complement the fruit in the bottle but being able to pick it out is disappointing at some level. Delicious wine but I'm glad I only paid for one of these back in the day.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  For me, this was the WOTD with its pepper and spice infused blackbery, lingonberry, and red cherry fruit. Baking spices provided power on the nose, and it had the longest finish of the day, maintaining its high register without being shrill; lovely sugar-acid balance, showing less sweetness than every other wine but not at all austere or closed. Really superb and worth the $ (not showing any heat whatsoever for me). I will be stopping by Turley every time I pass through Paso from now on.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2004 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile

  This wine has maintained its balance but is starting to turn to plum and chocolate milk with its aged, ripe fruit. Whether high alcohol or residual sugar is responsible for its sweet impression is immaterial, but it wears it well and a good choice you like some tertiary characteristics with your Zin. Drink NOW.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2007 Williams Selyem Zinfandel Feeney Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Opened as a "bonus wine" but not much of this wine was consumed at the tasting. This is quite superb but not the total package it was before. Some of its complexity has folded into a more integrated package. While it has structure to carry it forward, I'd say that these will show best in 2010-2011 and not thereafter.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

What a fine little tasting! The great company was even better than the very good wine. Favorites of the day for me: 1) Turley 2) Williams-Selyem 3) Carlisle and 4) Woodside.