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Zinfandel Tasting featuring a V. Sattui Black Sears vertical
Brett and Carols, Landenberg, PA
Tasted May 10, 2014 by Outplaying with 439 views
Introduction
Brett and Carol invited us and a few other couples over for a vertical of V. Sattui Black Sears and a roasted lamb dinner. The wines varied quite a bit. My favorites were the oldest and the youngest surprisingly. I also liked the Ridge quite a bit.
Flight 1 (4 notes)
Rosé
2012 Truett-Hurst Zinfandel Rosé Salmon Run
A dark rose. Ripe and fruity and slightly heavy compared to the roses we usually enjoy. Lacks verve and cut. Pass.
Red
2006 Ridge Three Valleys
Tart dark fruits, good acid, restrained, fine tannins. Elegant. I ranked this #2 behind the '96 V. Sattui.
Flight 2 (7 notes)
Red
1996 V. Sattui Winery Zinfandel Black Sears Vineyard
Cinnamon, spices, dried red fruits, good acid. A little bit of alc showing but not bad. Paired well with the roasted lamb. My favorite of the night. 14.6% alc.
Red
1997 V. Sattui Winery Zinfandel Black Sears Vineyard
This showed more ripe and sweet than the 96. A little port like with raisin and amarone notes. Good acid. Noticeable alcohol. Others liked this but it was my least favorite. 14.9% alc.
Red
2000 V. Sattui Winery Zinfandel Black Sears Vineyard
Some coffee and toffee on the nose. Dark fruits and spices on the palate. A little ripe and hot. 14% alc.
Red
2003 V. Sattui Winery Zinfandel Black Sears Vineyard
Spicy, a little alc. on the nose. Slightly sweet, ripe, fruity, dark fruits. A little simple but easy drinking. 15% alc.
Red
2008 V. Sattui Winery Zinfandel Black Sears Vineyard
A little alc. on the nose. Slightly earthy, slight coffee, chocolate, spices. Smooth with plush fruit. This was balanced pretty well. Ranked number two for me after the 96 in the vertical. 15% alc.
Red
2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch
A couple of years ago I wrote that this didn't seem jammy or over the top. This time, as part of a zin tasting, the wine showed big and fruity, with a little alcohol showing. Lots of fruit on the nose, but then slightly more restrained on the palate then the nose suggests. Slightly jammy at first but with some air it comes into better balance. In contrast to the others this is pretty big and ripe but there is pretty good acid in this.
Red
2009 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard
Interesting, unique nose. Something green but hard to identify. On the palate, soft dark fruits, briar notes, spices, decent acid. A big wine but better balanced and more enjoyable than I expected despite the 16.7% alc.