44th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2017s

R&D once again opened their home to host a zinfandel retrospective tasting- an event they have hosted on an annual basis since the late 1970s, COVID and a few other years excepted. It began as a ten-year retrospective, then became a five-year and is now determined by vintages the hosts have on hand. We never know which particular zinfandels end up in the blind lineup, but there is almost always a Ridge Geyserville and Ridge Lytton Springs.

We casually sip through the warm ups, nonblind, as we nosh on light hors d'oeuvres and appetizers. When the event moved on from being a ten-year horizontal, R&D decided to put a couple of ten-year-old zins out as warm ups, so we always taste at least a couple.

• 2014 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière 96 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Magnum. Lovely light golden yellow color with notes of lemon curd, tangerine, pear and honeysuckle. Full-bodied and rich, showing persimmon, pear and clementine flavors. Hints of lemon and vanilla in the long finish. Just beginning to reach peak this format. (R&D)

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• 2015 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Our penultimate bottle, double decanted off its sediment 45 minutes before service. Short version- typical Montelena Zinfandel- elegant with perfectly ripe red berry fruit, never raisined or pruney.
  
  Aromas of raspberry, blackberry and cherry with licorice, floral and spice undertones. Perfumed and pretty. A touch darker on the palate with black raspberry and mulberry qualities. Balanced, with plenty of fruit carrying the finish. Drinking very well at the moment, and while I think it should hold at this level for a few years, why wait? Now to 2028.

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• 2021 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Zinfandel Zayante 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  A new label to me, this pours a light ruby red color. The initial aroma - and I know, this seems odd - but it reminds me of a frozen margarita mix/base that my father used to buy in the warehouse clubs. It’s a little citrusy, a little floral and a little sweet, and I like it. Mixing in are notes of wild strawberry, cherry, florals and red berry fruit. Medium-bodied and forward with flavors of briary red fruit, macerated strawberries and red plum with a peppery spice as well. Finishes with good length. Excellent. (R&S)

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• 2015 Fontanella Family Wines Zinfandel 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Rich, with dark briary black zin fruit, plum, pepper and mulberry notes. The palate follows the bouquet, adding just the slightest hint of raisin as well. Usually I find raisin and/or prune elements distracting, but not in this case. An excellent rich, full-bodied Zinfandel. (R&D)

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• 2015 Prisoner Wine Company Saldo 90 Points

  USA, California

  Another rich, full-bodied Zinfandel with hints of raisin that work nicely with the other plummy, ripe dark Zinfandel fruit tones. Has some interesting red fruit elements mixed in. An excellent showing from a Zinfandel that I usually don't care for, at least not within the context of these Zin retrospectives. (R&D)

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• 2017 Fontanella Family Wines Zinfandel 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Blind. Notes of dill, rosemary, red and purple fruit. Full-bodied with flavors of raspberry, pomegranate and boysenberry. With air the fruit really begins to shine and this also adds a high-toned floral quality that I enjoy quite a bit. Peppery spice tones emerge on the finish. 92+ pts. (R&D)
  
  My #3, Domino's #4
  Group #2, 35 pts

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• 2017 Sobon Estate Zinfandel 89 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County

  Blind. Aromas of vanilla, clay, mocha and red berry fruit. Full-bodied and rich, with an abundance of ripe red cherry and boysenberry, mulberry and spice. This develops a swampy, vegetal aroma and the alcohol also begins to show in the bouquet and also on the palate the longer this sits. (R&D)
  
  My #8, Domino's #5
  Group #3, 37 pts

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• 2017 Mauritson Wines Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Blind. High-toned with a hint of VA, florals and red berry fruit. Flavors of red fruit, cedar and clove on the palate. Leather, chocolate and dark plummy fruit aromas as this opens in the glass. Chocolate and pepper emerge on the palate. Retains a somewhat savory quality throughout. (R&D)
  
  My #6, Domino's #6
  Group #5, 43 pts

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• 2017 Fiddletown Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel 91 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Fiddletown

  Blind. Aromas of mocha, plum, raspberry and dusty earth- in the vein that one would note "Rutherford dust." Loses the earth and mocha notes of it opens, allowing the dark Zin fruit to shine through. Mixed red and black fruit on the palate, black cherry, raspberry and pepper as well. Balanced; this is pretty tasty and has plenty to hold my interest. (R&D)
  
  My #4, Domino's #8
  Group #7, 54 pts

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• 2017 Prisoner Wine Company Saldo 92 Points

  USA, California

  Blind. Initially dark and brooding, with dark plummy fruit and chocolate aromas. Full-bodied and quite rich, showing flavors of chocolate, blueberry and ripe dark fruit. With air aromas of blueberry and raspberry emerge and the palate softens, showing boysenberry and plum. Big, but fruity and balanced. 92+ pts. (R&D)
  
  My #2, Domino's #2
  Group #1, 19 pts

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• 2017 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

  Blind. Notes of macerated red berry fruit and chocolate along with something a little woodsy. With air the woodsy notes become more prominent and remind most closely of sandalwood, and the aromatic profile is more black fruit than red. Flavors of bitter chocolate, black and blue fruit and pepper. Very nice and easy to enjoy. (R&D)
  
  My #5, Domino's #3
  Group #4, 38 pts

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• 2017 Ridge Lytton Springs Flawed

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Blind. Corked. (R&D)
  
  My #9, Domino's #9
  Group #9, 65 pts

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• 2017 Ridge Geyserville 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  Blind. Aromas of boysenberry, mulberry and dill- the fruit is abundant and nicely ripe. Full-bodied, with terrific red berry fruit and spice on the palate, culminating in a long finish. My initial thought was that this was a Ridge. With air the bouquet develops a lovely floral overtone to go with cherry, red fruit and mulberry. The palate remains forward with an abundance of lush red fruit. 92-93 pts. (R&D)
  
  My #1, Domino's #7
  Group #6, 52 pts

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• 2017 Once & Future Wine Zinfandel Frank's Block Teldeschi Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Blind. Aromas of mocha, blueberry and boysenberry, developing herb, cedar and darker fruit elements as it opens in the glass. Full-bodied and dark-fruited, with chocolate, plum and pepper in the finish. Excellent, if a touch young yet. (R&D)
  
  My #7, Domino's #1
  Group #8, 62 pts

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