Zinco De Mayo

Our little Seattle tasting/drinking group gathered to enjoy a selection of Zinfandel. Greenblanket choose some of his favorites that demonstrated just about the whole style range of this uniquely American grape. In a new format for us no scoring was done and all wines where presented uncovered. We just drank and enjoyed with some very informal discussion about favorites at the end of the night.

• 2004 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Scherrer Shale Terrace

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  This wine clearly held down one far end of the stylistic range of the group of wines we enjoyed for ‘Zinco de Mayo’. It offered an elegant profile with red and black fruit, spices and distinct minerality. Most distinguishing were the peach and nectarine flavors especially on the persistent finish. Most of our drinkers said they would never pick this as a zin in a blind tasting. All agreed that it was delicious.

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• 2006 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel Mayacamas Range

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Restrained, pretty in its perfectly ripe fruit, brilliantly balanced, and all about classic Zin flavors this wine was in the top three of all of our divergent group of drinkers. Opened way too young but Greenblanket just couldn’t resist showing it off – a beautiful bottle of wine.

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• 2005 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Once again for Greenblanket, and all of our Zinco de Mayo drinkers, this wine is classic Zinfandel – big, bright, and brambly with bold fruit and a whole range of spices and dried herbs and flowers. This wine has a rustic edge to it like a great Chianti. If Greenblanket could only buy one Zinfandel (perish the thought) this would be it.

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• 2005 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Greenblanket had been off this wine for just a minute but thought that it showed really well last night with a bright, flavorful palate and a good finish. Greenblanket is surprised at the number of notes describing this wine as jammy as he found the fruit to be fresh and bright. Even with the good showing it wasn’t mentioned much by our group of drinkers and was probably Greenblanket’s least favorite of a strong group.

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• 2004 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Greenblanket really tried to keep his Carlisle pimpage down as our group drank their way through a selection of Zinco de Mayo wines. As in all of Greenblanket’s previous experiences this wine had a beautiful bouquet and an almost supernatural combination of richness/opulence and balance in the mouth. This wine was in most of our drinkers top two and is still Greenblanket’s favorite zin.

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• 2006 Martinelli Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  This wine caused quite a stir among our little band of Zinco de Mayo drinker/celebrants. Out of the ten of us it was number one for five and last place for three. No Spit said it was like “an acid trip in a bottle”. He also cautioned against trying to make the leap between the elegant Shale Terrace and the Giuseppe and Luisa because such a big shift might cause “an accident in your pants”. Big, powerful, fragrant, over the top, so slutty that it’s like cheating on your wife, outrageous, and too sweet were just a few of the descriptions offered. Greenblanket says that if you love Zinfandel you have to accept this flamboyant but beautiful wine for what it is. Even though we may suspect the flavors to be pumped up and less than natural they’re still magnificent.

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The important learning from this event is that drinking is a lot more fun than tasting. Freed from scoring and tasting notes we were able to spend more time enjoying the wine, each other’s company, and No Spit’s skills as a raconteur.