Important Update From the Founder

36th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2009s

Rich & Dana's

Tasted May 25, 2014 by AllRed with 578 views

Introduction

The day for the annual Zinfandel retrospective had arrived, and once again Domino and I were invited to fill in a couple of the empty seats. The annual event featured a tasting of eight ten year old Zinfandels, blind, which the tasters ranked first through eighth. A couple of years ago the format changed slightly, and now features a five year retrospective, although our hosts had a little fun and switched things up this year as well. This year we tasted not eight, but twelve Zinfandels in two flights of six. Votes for the flights were tallied separately and the wines' identity revealed after each flight. We had twelve tasters for this year's event.

Flight 1 - I. Warm ups (4 notes)

These were served nonblind with light hors d'oeuvres prior to the blind Zin tasting. Entertainment was provided by a very tame wild turkey hen who had been visiting R&D's bird feeders, located just a few feet from the three seasons room in which we enjoyed the warm ups.

White

2010 Lewis Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley

90 points

Pale color with citrus- grapefruit and lemon- aromas and a subtle grassy overtone. Good acidity with citrus and crushed stone flavors. Excellent.

Comment

White

2010 Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley

92 points

Deep yellow color with notes of banana and tropical fruit with nice toasty undertones. Rich texture with orchard and tropical fruit, toast and vanilla flavors. Long finish.

Comment

Red

2004 Ridge Zinfandel Carmichael Ranch USA, California, Sonoma County

88 points

Garnet core with just a little bricking. Slightly ripe and pruny on the bouquet. Red berries, ripe dark fruit, pepper and boysenberry flavors. Ripe fruit on the finish.

Comment

Red

2004 Ridge Mazzoni Home Ranch USA, California, Sonoma County

89 points

As with the Carmichael, a deep core with slight bricking at the meniscus. Dark fruit aromas, spice and just a hint of raisin. Red and dark fruits mix on the palate with a nice peppery finish.

Comment

Flight 2 - II. Zins (6 notes)

The tasters knew these were 2009 Zinfandels, nothing more. I suppose in looking at the points in each flight, the Biale Old Kraft could be considered the overall winner with 25 points, as no other wines, including those in the next flight, scored as well.

Red

2009 Robert Biale Zinfandel Old Kraft Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

92 points

Aromas of raspberry preserves and pepper with an earthy, forest floor-like undertone. Raspberry and jammy red fruit on the palate ending with spice and pepper nuances. Fruit forward and lush without being overly ripe or raisiny. 92+ pts.

My #1, Domino's #1
Group #1, 25 pts

Comment

Red

2009 Ridge Lytton Springs USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

87 points

A little funky at first, with an odd cheesy/sweaty note. Red fruit- raspberry, currants- spice and pepper on the palate.

Others liked this quite a bit more than I, and it had improved a bit by the time the wines were unveiled, and in looking at the rankings, those who voted later had this ranked higher.

My #6, Domino's #5
Group #2, 33 pts

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2009 Ridge Geyserville USA, California, Sonoma County

88 points

Aromas of acetone, cherry and red berry fruit. The acetone quality eventually blew off, but long after I turned in my ranking. Flavors of red fruit, cloves and pepper with a nice finish. Good, but not special tonight. This received two 1st place votes so it had some fans.

My #5, Domino's #6
Group #3, 45 pts (tie broken by 1st place votes as this had two)

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2009 Robert Biale Zinfandel Valsecchi USA, California, Sonoma County

92 points

Notes of pomegranate, raspberry, herbs, florals and pepper. Boysenberry and ripe red fruit on the palate with a long, balanced finish. Again, jammy and lush without being too ripe or forward.

My #2, Domino's #2
Group #4, 45 pts (tie broken as this received no 1st place votes)

Comment

Red

2009 Ridge Zinfandel Paso Robles USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

90 points

Red fruit and spice but again, there's a very subtle acetone note here as well. Lovely red berry fruit, spice and raspberry flavors. Finishes with a nice sweetness, and I mean that in a complimentary way; very nice.

My #3, Domino's #4
Group #6, 56 pts

Comment

Red

2009 Robert Biale Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

89 points

Notes of black fruits and cherry with an herbal undertone. Flavors of cherry, spice, pepper, cinnamon and boysenberry. 89+ pts.

My #4, Domino's #3
Group #5, 48 pts

Comment

Flight 3 - III. Zins (6 notes)

Our host threw us a curve ball this year, including this flight of ten year olds.

Red

2004 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

86 points

Port-like to start, raisiny and ripe, becoming less port-like as it sits, developing beefy, saline qualities. Has a stewed quality on the palate, along with bouillon and red fruit.

My #6, Domino's #4
Group #5, 55 pts

Comment

Red

2004 Ridge Zinfandel York Creek USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

89 points

Aromas of black raspberry and cherry, becoming darker and developing a molasses-like note- almost like a deep barbeque sauce quality- a bit smoky. Flavors of dark fruit, spice, currants and herbs with a subtle earthy note. 89+ pts.

My #3, Domino's #1
Group #1, 33 pts

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2004 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

87 points

Another pruny, raisiny wine, becoming less so with air but never losing it entirely. The palate follows the bouquet- a bit raisiny and dark.

My #5, Domino's #6
Group #4, 54 pts

Comment

Red

2004 Ridge Lytton Springs USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

90 points

Opens with aromas of candied red fruit turning to raspberry and cherry. Develops a subtle earthy, bretty note which I rather liked at this level. Wonderful red fruit and spice on the palate, picking up a barbeque sauce quality here as well- a brown sugar/molasses kind of thing that I also found interesting.

My #2, Domino's #3
Group #2, 35 pts

Comment

Red

2004 Ridge Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

91 points

Aromas of red raspberry, cherry, boysenberry and pepper. Dark fruit and raspberry flavors on the palate, as well as earth and pepper tones. Finishes well, with good fruit and length.

My #1, Domino's #2
Group #3, 37 pts

Comment

Red

2004 Ridge Geyserville USA, California, Sonoma County

88 points

Currants and florals with a subtle raisin note. Black fruit, bouillon cube and spice on the palate.

My #4, Domino's #5
Group #6, 59 pts

Comment

Flight 4 - IV. Blind Dinner Wine (1 note)

One of the attendees brought a blind dinner wine, and I am very glad that he did. This drank WELL above its label and price tag. I guessed Sonoma Coast Pinot in the $30 range, others were guessing Russian River/Sonoma, etc., and I think we all thought it was priced much, much higher.

Red

2010 Castle Rock Pinot Noir Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County

91 points

Tasted blind. Cherry, vanilla and earth aromas. Cherry, cranberry and nutmeg tones on the palate. Balanced and light; obviously a Pinot, but well-crafted and very nice. I guessed Sonoma Coast Pinot. This was a real surprise when unveiled.

Comment

Flight 5 - V. Nonblind Dinner & Dessert Wines (7 notes)

Brought by the attendees, enjoyed nonblind with smoked brisket & slaw, and a wonderful banana-based cake for dessert.

Red

2005 Bodega Classica Rioja Hacienda López de Haro Reserva Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

flawed

Corked

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2012 Lynx Cabernet Sauvignon South Africa, Coastal Region, Franschhoek Valley

88 points

Currant and red fruit notes with nice chocolate overtones. Currant and chocolate tones on the palate. Nice fruit and well-balanced. A very enjoyable wine. 88-89 pts.

Comment

Red

2010 Robert Biale Basic Black USA, California, North Coast

88 points

Black fruit and spice, hints of vanilla. Firm tannins, with dark fruit, spice and vanilla.

Comment

Red

2009 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel The Montelena Estate USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

88 points

Vanilla, currant and red fruit notes. The palate follows the bouquet, ending with a nice peppery note.

Comment

Red

2006 Saxon-Brown Syrah Owl Box Parmelee-Hill USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

92 points

Aromas of dark fruit, pepper and roasted game. Pepper, black fruit, plum and meat on the palate. Medium tannins with a nice finish.

Comment

Red

2005 Flora Springs Trilogy USA, California, Napa Valley

91 points

Currant, chocolate, red berry and vanilla notes. The palate follows the nose. Medium bodied and nicely balanced.

Comment

White - Sweet/Dessert

1997 Château Climens France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

Coconut, tropical fruit, honey and botrytis spice. Pineapple syrup, tropical fruit and honey flavors on the long finish.

Comment

Closing

This is always a fun event which we are happy to be able to attend. Thank you R&D for hosting and inviting us.

36th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2009s

Rich & Dana's

Introduction

Flight 1 - I. Warm ups (4 notes)

Flight 2 - II. Zins (6 notes)

Flight 3 - III. Zins (6 notes)

Flight 4 - IV. Blind Dinner Wine (1 note)

Flight 5 - V. Nonblind Dinner & Dessert Wines (7 notes)

Closing

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