38th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2011s

R&D's
Tasted Sunday, July 17, 2016 by AllRed with 463 views

Introduction

The annual zin tasting was rescheduled from it's usual Memorial Day weekend date to a date that Domino and I could not make, but we were invited over for leftovers the next day.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

A few years ago the tasting was scaled down from a ten year to a five year retrospective. This was due to the sheer quantity of Zinfandel that must be purchased in order to have an eight bottle horizontal at the ten year mark. That said, there are always a couple of ten year olds opened to transition from the whites to the double blind flight of eight five year olds.

  • 2006 Ridge Geyserville 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Floral overtones give way to ripe dark fruit; prune. Flavors of red brambly fruit and spices and pepper.

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  • 2006 Robert Biale Zinfandel Old Kraft Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    I preferred this to the Geyserville between the ten year olds (which served as last night's warm up reds). Cherry, raspberry and bramble notes. Cherry, pepper and lush, ripe Zin fruit with a good finish. I thought the Ridge was a bit too ripe and rustic, whereas this just had really fresh and luscious red fruit.

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Flight 2 - The 2011s (8 Notes)

Tasted blind - we know these are Zins, yes, but not the producers so it is not a true single blind format, nor is it double since we know the variety and vintage. Anyway, this is always a fun tasting and I was very happy to be able to taste these the next day, having missed the event the night before. I tend to like Zin in cooler vintages and this proved to be no exception. The fruit was very nice and there were very few that were too ripe. The group's first place wine last night was the Rombauer.

Flight 3 - Dinner wines (6 Notes)

We enjoyed R&D's leftover brisket with some of the wines the other attendees brought for dinner. We supplied a few mini tartlets to accompany the CSJ we brought along (one always has to end the night on a sweet note).

  • 2013 SLO Down Wines Sexual Chocolate 85 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Dark fruit, chocolate and pepper notes. Good fruit on the palate with a nice spicy quality on the finish. Gimmicky, sure, but a very drinkable wine nonetheless.

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  • 2007 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

    Dark fruit and olive notes on the nose and palate. Rustic tannins with dark fruit lingering on the finish.

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  • 2007 Turley Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    I went in expecting not to like this due to the warmer vintage, but this was a pleasant surprise. The fruit was ripe but not overdone and it wasn't hot as I expected it would be. A mélange of dark and red fruit with warm spice undertones and white pepper on the back end. Very nice.

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  • 2006 Glaetzer Anaperenna 91 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Notes of dark fruit, plum, mint and blue fruit. Dark fruit on the palate, with medium tannins and vanilla and menthol coming in on the finish.

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  • 2005 Chateau St. Jean Johannisberg Riesling Select Late Harvest Belle Terre Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    I haven't checked in on these in a while so I grabbed one to accompany some mini tarts following supper. Light color with notes of lemon and apple. The palate shows a good bit of acidity and this wonderful lemon drop candy quality. Finishes with good length. More than held its own, and then some, against the Rieussec. A delightful bottle of wine to end the night.

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  • 1988 Château Rieussec 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Deeper color. Notes of botrytis, peach and stone fruit. Tropical fruit and peach flavors on the palate. Softened acidity.

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