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40th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2013s
R&Ds
Tasted May 27, 2018 by AllRed with 268 views
Introduction
The Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend means the annual zinfandel retrospective at R&Ds. This year marks the 40th year of this tasting, and as always, Domino and I were happy to be included. A few years ago the event moved from a ten-year horizontal to a five-year horizontal, though there are always a couple of ten year olds to serve as warm ups before the blind flight.
Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 notes)
All tasted nonblind.
Rosé
2011 Kapcsándy Family Winery Rosé State Lane Vineyard
88 points
Strawberry and red berry fruit with a dirty/earthy undertone. The earthy quality follows through on the palate, along with berry and herb qualities. Decent acidity.
Rosé
2016 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rosé
89 points
Floral, mineral and berry notes. Pale color. White currant and red berry flacors with bright acidity. 89+ pts.
Rosé
2016 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé
89 points
Deepest color of the three wines. Notes of rose petal, cherry and red fruit. Nice balance,with plenty of red berry fruit along with a nice mineral undertone. 89+ pts.
Flight 2 - Ten year old warm ups (3 notes)
Nonblind ten year olds.
Red
2008 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel The Montelena Estate
89 points
Double decanted off its sediment and tasted with the other '08s about an hour later. Holding up nicely, showing red berry and pepper aromas. Medium-bodied with flavors of red fruit, pepper and spice. Mature, and in a nice spot...will drink the last two within the coming months. 89-90 pts.
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Red
2008 Ridge Lytton Springs
91 points
Deep color gives no hint as to its true age. Spice and mixed fruit aromas. Very well balanced across the palate with an abundance of red and dark fruit. Wonderful spice-tinged finish. Holding very well, and not yet at peak. 91+ pts.
Red
2008 Ridge Geyserville
92 points
As impressive as the Lytton Springs was, this was more so. Raspberry, plum and spice aromas. Raspberry and red fruit, pepper and warm spice flavors. Lingering finish.
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Flight 3 - The main flight (9 notes)
Tasted blind. We always know the year and, obviously, that we're tasting zins, but we never know what wines make the cut each year. Shown in the order tasted.
As a group, the '13s were very good- perfectly ripe without the typical raisin/prune notes one often finds. Interesting that the two Turleys showed a bit of brettanomyces- it's been a few years since I was on the list and I wonder if they have a problem in the winery. In any case- if nine bottles can serve as a snapshot of the vintage as a whole, I'm a fan of the '13s and may add a few if I come across any. I don't see these tiring any time soon, so no need to worry about longevity.
Red
2013 Prisoner Wine Company The Prisoner
91 points
Blind. Raspberry and dark zin fruit aromas. Picks up a peppery spice note as it sits. Soft tannins with flavors of raspberry, chocolate and red fruit. Medium-bodied with nice acidity and structure. 91-92 pts.
My #2, Domino's #3
Group #3, 38 pts
My #2, Domino's #3
Group #3, 38 pts
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Red
2013 Brown Estate Zinfandel
92 points
Blind. Red berry fruit aromas- not quite as exuberant as wine A at first, but very nice. The fruit comes on stronger as it sits. Subtle spice notes. Nice balance...the most "complete" wine in tonight's lineup.
My #1, Domino's #1
Group #2, 36 pts
My #1, Domino's #1
Group #2, 36 pts
Red
2013 Robert Biale Zinfandel R.W. Moore Vineyard
89 points
Blind. Good currant, red berry and spice aromas. The palate follows the bouquet. Seems a bit more simple than most of the others but has nice fruit.
My #7, Domino's #7
Group #7, 62 pts
My #7, Domino's #7
Group #7, 62 pts
Red
2013 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard
91 points
Blind. Nice spicy zin notes with red fruit underneath. A touch weedy and vegetal, this definitely has a bit of bretty funk too, as well as red and black fruit. Black raspberry fruit and peppery spice on the palate. The brett is not distracting here, so it adds complexity. I like this.
My #3, Domino's #2
Group #5, 47 pts
My #3, Domino's #2
Group #5, 47 pts
Red
2013 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken
89 points
Blind. Black and blue fruit with nice underlying spice. Seems to shut down slightly in the glass, becoming more reticent aromatically. Candied zin fruit and spice on the palate with a slight tannic grip. 89-90 pts.
My #6, Domino's #5
Group #4, 42 pts
My #6, Domino's #5
Group #4, 42 pts
Red
2013 Prisoner Wine Company Saldo
90 points
Blind. Raspberry and pepper notes with a gamy/meaty note too. Meaty, with dark zin fruit underneath that follows through on the palate.
My #4, Domino's #8
Group #1, 31 pts
My #4, Domino's #8
Group #1, 31 pts
Red
2013 Ridge Lytton Springs
88 points
Blind. The only one in this lineup that I find a little overly ripe, with subtle notes of prune and mixed red and black fruit. Nice spice overtones. Finishes a little shorter than most of the others in the lineup too.
My #9, Domino's #6
Group #9, 71 pts
My #9, Domino's #6
Group #9, 71 pts
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Red
2013 Turley Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge
88 points
Blind. Another that has a touch of brett showing through, though this one is more of the horse blanket variety and I do not care for it as much. Dark fruit and pine resin aromas. Spicy red fruit with a tapenade quality as well. Interesting, but not really my cup of tea.
My #8, Domino's #4
Group #6, 57 pts
My #8, Domino's #4
Group #6, 57 pts
Red
2013 Ridge Geyserville
90 points
Blind. Reticent at first. Red fruit, raspberry and spice notes. Really nice zin fruit on the palate, more red than dark, with a nice spice-tinged finish. Excellent.
My #5, Domino's #9
Group #8, 66 pts
My #5, Domino's #9
Group #8, 66 pts
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Flight 4 - Dinner/dessert wines. (4 notes)
Nonblind with brisket and slaw, and a cheesecake with blueberries for dessert.
Red
2008 Robert Biale Zinfandel Old Kraft Vineyard
91 points
The last of the 2008s tonight. Nice ripe zin fruit and spice in the bouquet and on the palate. Medium+ finish. In a nice place right now.
Red
2015 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Rockpile
92 points
Deep color. Aromas of clay, dark zinny fruit and peppery spice. Terrific fruit on the palate. Pepper and red fruit finish.
Red
2015 Domaine Monier Perréol St. Joseph
92 points
This is really tasty juice. Deep opaque color with aromas of dark fruit, pepper and tapenade. Medium+ tannins have a fine texture. Abundant dark fruit and pepper on the palate. Lengthy finish. 92-93 pts.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1996 Château Climens
86 points
Light honey gold color. Notes of apricot and sweet fruit brandy liqueur. Fruit cup syrup on the palate, along with dried apricots. Simple, and lacking acid.
Closing
As always, many thanks to R&D for including us.