Excellent value. Still very dark purple, no amber edges. Given the age (and price point), we were surprised by that. Wonderful oak and black cherries aroma. Well balanced on the tongue - a little tart, a little sweet, a little tannic. Explosive fruit flavor, very bold, cherries and strawberries. This is a "big" wine, but the alcohol doesn't really show until late into the warm, long finish.
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Garnet in color, nose of blackberry, palate was an explosion of spicy fruit. Short on the finish. Bold and in your face. Would pair even better with a hardy lasagna than the grilled ribeyes we had. Ripe and ready to drink. Wish I had bought more than 1 bottle.
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Surprisingly good. Rises nearly to the level of Seghesio - a Sonoma Zin value benchmark if there ever was one.
15.5% alcohol but the flavor profile isn't pruney or overripe in any way. Pretty aromatically with black and blue fruit with silty mouthfeel. Brawny but carries its weight well. I like it. Nice value in the $15-$20 range.
Sample for review.
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Reasonable, one-dimensional wine for the price. More extracted than I prefer. Red and black fruits on the nose. Spicy notes, black cherry and other black fruits on the palate. Good fruit, good balance. Nothing wrong with this wine. Nothing particularly interesting about it either.
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Some dark fruits in the nose, with a bit of american oak(?). Taste is fairly full bodied, smooth, jammy fruits and reasonable finish. A crowd pleaser zin for sure.
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Strong American oak, aroma and flavor, which integrates somewhat with air but the fruit is always fighting to get through it. I like Zin to taste a bit more like Zin. Not my style.
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I rate this highly because it satisfies the occasional need for hedonism that comes over me from time to time, and because it's a damn good Zin. I won't speak of balance, structure, or mid palate here. This appeals to an animal side that wants to walk through the woods under a full moon with wine in one hand and a wood staff in the other. Why do we drink Zin, because we seek perfection? I drink it because I like to get back my wine-drinking roots, the days before my palate became educated and perhaps a bit jaded. Zinfandel can be a soul warming wine that satiates and should be celebrated knowing that the aristocrats in Bordeaux would turn their nose up at it, and the posh restaurants of the world probably don't have a beast like the St Francis on the list. This is lush and lusty with a nose that is neither hot nor volatile as you might expect from a wine at 15.5%. I highly recommend dropping $15 on this bottle and revel in it's lack of complexity and simply enjoy the sensation it brings as it seeps into your belly.
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7/15/2019 - Csvines87 wrote:
4 Great bold zin with long fruity finish!! Must try!!!
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1/4/2017 - MateusPetrus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent value.
Still very dark purple, no amber edges. Given the age (and price point), we were surprised by that.
Wonderful oak and black cherries aroma. Well balanced on the tongue - a little tart, a little sweet, a little tannic.
Explosive fruit flavor, very bold, cherries and strawberries.
This is a "big" wine, but the alcohol doesn't really show until late into the warm, long finish.
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10/18/2015 - uncletom62 wrote: 89 Points
Very nice after 2 hour decant. Tasty dark fruit with enjoyable finish.
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4/8/2015 - kmicho Likes this wine: 88 Points
Delicious, well balanced, nice tannins. Berries, vanilla, cedar. A real nice Zin.
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2/23/2014 - manny651 wrote: 79 Points
super sweet, grape juice with alcohol
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2/15/2013 - 4wdave wrote:
- Violet color with medium forming legs and aromas of blackberry and has flavours of blackberry.
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11/8/2012 - pedroh wrote: 90 Points
Round, round and smooth. Just fantastic.
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11/3/2012 - mfmarozas wrote: 87 Points
Garnet in color, nose of blackberry, palate was an explosion of spicy fruit. Short on the finish. Bold and in your face. Would pair even better with a hardy lasagna than the grilled ribeyes we had. Ripe and ready to drink. Wish I had bought more than 1 bottle.
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9/28/2012 - tfharris wrote: 88 Points
great wine for the price. better on day 2 also.
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9/27/2012 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Surprisingly good. Rises nearly to the level of Seghesio - a Sonoma Zin value benchmark if there ever was one.
15.5% alcohol but the flavor profile isn't pruney or overripe in any way. Pretty aromatically with black and blue fruit with silty mouthfeel. Brawny but carries its weight well. I like it. Nice value in the $15-$20 range.
Sample for review.
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9/16/2012 - Pipcelot wrote: 88 Points
Reasonable, one-dimensional wine for the price. More extracted than I prefer. Red and black fruits on the nose. Spicy notes, black cherry and other black fruits on the palate. Good fruit, good balance. Nothing wrong with this wine. Nothing particularly interesting about it either.
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9/6/2012 - tfharris wrote: 89 Points
Yumm. Just the right amount of spice.
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7/13/2012 - wmazanec wrote: 90 Points
One of the best Zins we've had. Thick and luscious, balanced oak, spicy without hot alcohol or pepper. Wrenwood move over!
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6/15/2012 - reddart wrote: 89 Points
Some dark fruits in the nose, with a bit of american oak(?). Taste is fairly full bodied, smooth, jammy fruits and reasonable finish. A crowd pleaser zin for sure.
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6/5/2012 - Weaselmarie wrote: 85 Points
Really nice zin. Not too peppery, but good spice.
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5/27/2012 - tfharris wrote: 89 Points
peppery. This is a very good wine for the price.
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4/19/2012 - glassfull wrote:
Good Purchase More
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3/7/2012 - tfharris wrote: 88 Points
Predictable, consistent. Mildly spicy zin.
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2/19/2012 - esb wrote:
Strong American oak, aroma and flavor, which integrates somewhat with air but the fruit is always fighting to get through it. I like Zin to taste a bit more like Zin. Not my style.
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2/17/2012 - TJ25000 wrote: 89 Points
Great wine.
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1/28/2012 - affordableCollector wrote: 85 Points
clear, brick in color. dark fruit, oak, spice on the nose. berry, nut, smoke, pepper on the palate. short finish.
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1/14/2012 - kanjimoti wrote: 91 Points
I rate this highly because it satisfies the occasional need for hedonism that comes over me from time to time, and because it's a damn good Zin. I won't speak of balance, structure, or mid palate here. This appeals to an animal side that wants to walk through the woods under a full moon with wine in one hand and a wood staff in the other. Why do we drink Zin, because we seek perfection? I drink it because I like to get back my wine-drinking roots, the days before my palate became educated and perhaps a bit jaded. Zinfandel can be a soul warming wine that satiates and should be celebrated knowing that the aristocrats in Bordeaux would turn their nose up at it, and the posh restaurants of the world probably don't have a beast like the St Francis on the list. This is lush and lusty with a nose that is neither hot nor volatile as you might expect from a wine at 15.5%. I highly recommend dropping $15 on this bottle and revel in it's lack of complexity and simply enjoy the sensation it brings as it seeps into your belly.
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1/7/2012 - Pckjr74 wrote: 88 Points
Nice drinking, not as complex as I expected. Spicy, yet mellow with nice currant notes.
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12/3/2011 - Charlie.Gail wrote: 85 Points
The bottle is etched with a poinsettia. Nothing wrong with the wine, but not great, either.
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11/19/2011 - trayhumphrey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Warm, rich Zinfandel, but not sweet or syrupy. A delicious wine.
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1/31/2011 - bambam wrote: 86 Points
ZAP 2011 20th Annual Grand Tasting; 1/29/2011-1/31/2011 (San Francisco, Fort Mason): Not one of my favorite St. Francis Zins.
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