34th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2007s

Rich & Dana's
Tasted Sunday, May 27, 2012 by AllRed with 662 views

Introduction

R&D has a couple of open spots for their annual Zinfandel retrospective, and we were happy to be invited to attend. This year the wines changed form 10 years of age to just 5, so we knew we were tasting five year old Zins.

Flight 1 - Warm ups (nonblind) (4 Notes)

  • 2005 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc

    USA, California, North Coast

    Pale color. Lemongrass, lemon zest, tart white apple. Pleasant white fruit, soft citrus and grassy notes. Lengthy finish with softened acidity.

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  • 2002 Ridge Geyserville 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Deep color with aromas of red and dark fruit, raspberry and spice. Medium-bodied, with loads of peppery red fruit and a long, spice-tinged finish.

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  • 2002 Ridge Lytton Springs 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    Perfumed red fruit highlights in the bouquet, along with cherry and spice qualities. Medium-bodied with nice acidity and flavors of pepper and red fruit.

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  • 2002 Robert Biale Zinfandel Old Crane Ranch 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Bosenberry, pepper and briary red fruit aromas. Medium- to full-bodied with flavors of pepper, cherry and black fruit. Much more ripe than the 2007 that also made an appeaarance tonight.

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Flight 2 - Blind main tasting (8 Notes)

Tasted in one flight, listed in order as they appeared in the flight. We spent half an hour evaluating the wines before turning in our rankings. Wines were ranked 1-8, with the top wine being that which had the lowest score.

  • 2007 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Rockpile 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile

    Crimson color. Vanilla, spicy oak and a mix of red and blue fruit on the bouquet. With air, the blue fruit stands out a bit more. Tannins are slightly chewy. Features red fruit, blueberry, pepper and raspberry liqueur flavors on the palate. Nicely balanced.

    My #3
    Group #1, 36 pts

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  • 2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Deep ruby/crimson color. Notes of raspberry liqueur, chocolate, herbs and mint. Develops red fruit, florals and spice qualities as it opens in the glass. Flavors of spicy red fruit, boysenberry, lingonberry and spices. Lengthy finish.

    My #4
    Group #8, 59 pts

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  • 2007 Orin Swift Saldo 89 Points

    USA, California

    Purple color. Notes of graham crackers, spice and plum, turning to cranberry and cherry. Spice, cranberry, blueberry and herb qualities on the palate.

    My #8
    Group #6, 56 pts

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  • 2007 The Other Guys Zinfandel Plungerhead Lodi 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

    Crimson color. Aromas of blue fruit and spice with meaty overtones. Blue fruit qualities follow through on the palate, along with boysenberry, cherry, clove and spice flavors. Develops a bacon-like quality as it opened further in the glass.

    My #7
    Group #7, 57 pts

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  • 2007 Ridge Geyserville 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Purplish crimson color. Spice, herb, cherry and red fruit notes emerge from the glass. White pepper and cherry qualities with air. Shows some lovely red fruit on the palate, as well as cherries, plum and black fruit, with a lengthy finish. Nice. 90+ pts.

    My #5
    Group #4, 51 pts

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  • 2007 Robert Biale Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    Purplish crimson color with aromas of black fruit, plum, boysenberry and spices. Flavors of boysenberry, raspberry and red fruit with subtle hints of pepper and spice on the finish. The fruit is lavish, yet the wine has an elegance about it. Nicely balanced across the palate.

    My #1
    Group #5, 55 pts

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  • 2007 Robert Biale Zinfandel Old Crane Ranch 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Dark color. Perfumed red fruit, boysenberry and vanilla qualities. Medium- to full-bodied, with flavors of white pepper, black raspberry, boysenberry and spice. Lengthy finish.

    My #2
    Group #3, 45 pts

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  • 2007 Sineann Old Vine Zinfandel 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley

    Crimson color. Not very Zin-like; aromas of earth, herbs and green, vegetal qualities (in a good way), with meaty undertones. Nice fruit on the palate, also has herb and white pepper qualities. Medium finish with nice acidity.

    My #6
    Group #2, 37 pts

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Flight 3 - Dinner/dessert wines (6 Notes)

Nonblind dinner & dessert wines served with pulled pork.

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