July 21, 2022 - 15.3% abv so, of course, it's going to be rich. Surprisingly little sediment. Concentrated & full. Not a terribly complex wine but a nice "supper" wine.
January 4, 2020 - Amazingly good after all these years. Just a touch of browning. Still lovely fruits and a slight feel of velvety tannin. Stored since release in a controlled cellar.
January 21, 2014 - When first opened, the wine is a rich burgundy color, but with time brick begins to take over the rim and outer edge of the wine. The nose is polite and warm with cinnamon, Draper perfume, plum, and warm fruit compote. All that carries fully and delightfully over to the attack. The mid–palate and finish continues the warm fruit and plum notes, but is aided with caramel, molasses and brown sugar. Perhaps some tad bit of raisining on the finish, but only at first. The mouthfeel is almost, but just a touch shy of being velvety. Some slight grains of sediment, but like the wine, reserved, soft and understated. 15.3% alc. With sirloin (beef) chili; not a good pairing, yet the wine shown well nonetheless. The chili threw a tantrum for a chocolate stout and the wine politely pleaded for a roasted chicken with a cognac-mushroom sauce. Recommended, and almost - almost - Highly Recommended.
May 27, 2012 - 34th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2007s (Rich & Dana's): Raisiny; black fruit, plum and prune aromas. Flavors of ripe black fruit, spice and pepper. A bit too ripe for my liking.
April 9, 2011 - RUSSK WSW BB-Zin tasting at Peter's. Bottom tier.
July 10, 2010 - Ruby red and transluscent. Lighter than I had expected but still looks fresh. Spirity on the nose and the palate like a well aged port. Surprisingly out of balance for a table wine with the moderated fruit and high alcohol (15.8%). I realize that this is an old zin from the ripe 1997 vintage but this is over the top in a bad way. Interesting but in no way a food wine. I have had many older zins from less extreme vintage such as 1994 and 1995 that were much better balanced. A poor showing and not my style. Drink up with a cigar.
November 25, 2009 - Inky purple. Nose has a hint of vinegar, first sips confirmed that this is probably past its prime, but with a little time in the glass and along side good food, it still held up nicely. The fruit is diminishing, but soft and enjoyable at this point.
April 24, 2007 - Wow, and people say zin doesnt age. Nice and rich, bold, long finish. Great zin character.
April 7, 2007 - held up great. Earthy, spicy, mellow, good finish
March 12, 2005 - Interesting - had with a simple pepper grilled steak and salad.
Still dark - without much sign of aging. Softly sweet on the nose with peppery blackberry and currant fruit. Not much complexity or mature notes showing up. Palate - initially sweet with a forward blackberry, currant and raspberry flavour, drys out on the midpalate to leave a dry, low tannin, currant and dark plum finish. Has a lot of spice on the finish as well - pepper, wood. Tasty finish - but not very long.
The bottle label said "drink within 5 years of 1999" - they were about right - the fruit was still there was you could tell it was starting to fade a little. Probably at or past peak drinking, it will only dry out from here. This was a very good wine - but not great.