Community Tasting Note

• der Schmecker Likes this wine: 91 points

  January 27, 2022 - I've sampled Carol Shelton wines and Wild Thing Zinfandel in the past and enjoyed the experience, but never became a devotee, someone who made the effort to seek out her wine. Probably because I enjoy sampling a wide variety of wine from regions all over the world and because there are quite a few Zinfandel producers here in California. Now that I have sufficient experience with other vintners, I'm glad that the Wine Spectator's designation of this wine as #43 of Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021 caught my attention and motivated me to buy this bottle. I sincerely endeavor to support independent wine makers because I respect their courage.
  I've always liked Carol Shelton's Wild Thing Zinfandel. The key is that the fruit is from Mendocino, not the sun-baked, highly alcoholic regions of Lodi or Paso Robles. Mendocino Zinfandel's are mellow. And that's good, a genuine plus. If a Zinfandel can grow in Mendocino to ripeness, it will usually be worth drinking. Here is the proof.
  Wild Thing 2018 has a muted nose, middle density, fruit forward in a bouquet flowery way, just a nice drinking wine that would complement dishes ranging from fish to poultry to pork to beef: basically any food. Mellow. Smooth. Not special. Not write your best buddy about, but a welcome glass, a glass to savor and think "life is good." Thank you.

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1 Comment

• Laz4wine commented:

  1/27/22, 6:50 PM - Nice note, thanks for sharing ur impressions, looking forward to trying soon. Don't put PR or Lodi out to pasture yet...real sea change in style is ongoing in Zinfanland. Try some J Dusi for starters, plenty of great restrained/balanced PR zins being released in the mid-tier ($25 - $45) when you take a chance to revisit, have been hearing similar from Lodi, DCV, and beyond. Cheers!

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