A gift from a friend who does not love zin. Served with our Christmas dinner which is a reprise of Thanksgiving.
This wine was rich and fool bodied with incredible balance. Lots of very dark fruit, modest tannins, depth and complexity. Layers of flavor and a true complement to the meal.
I found this bottle to be drinking very well at the moment. For sure, it is not a big, jammy Zin packed with flavor. I didn't try it in its youth, but I'd wager it was never like that. At this age, it is very dry and subtly fruited, with some tea like nuances and is more reminiscent of dried fruit. Some Zin pepper in there too. Good balance with good length on the finish. Really enjoyed this. I disagree with those that think this is past its prime, at least for my palate, but I shy away from the big super fruity Zins.
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Open for ~2 hr. Deep purple-ruby, very viscous @15.3% abv. Medium aromas of black berry, bramble, white pepper, graphite, and volatiles. Off-dry, low acidity, medium(-) tannin, high alcohol and full body. Medium(+) soft-sweet palate of black berry, blueberry jam, notes of raisins, licorice, leather, bay leave, smoke, pepper. Concentrated and balanced. Good length with sweet-bitter finish with some chalky tannins. Low QPR @ $30.
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Bursting red fruit on the nose with a hint of graphite showing through. The acidity has mostly integrated but there is still some brightness behind the spicy goodness. Ripe berry and stone fruit shine. One bottle left and I will likely drink it in the next year.
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Very dark purple tart berries and dried black fruit on the nose with a hint of sage and pepper. Quite sweet and surprising for a zin, almost port like, was expecting a little more pepper and spice, but the fruit really came through. Quite a surprising Zinfandel.
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This was a totally fascinating wine in that it wasn't like any other zin I've ever tasted. It has some of the usual stuff like pepper and ripe red fruit, but this one is all about how it plays out in the glass. The flavors and nose morph quite a bit minute by minute. One minute there is sage and spice and the next more pepper (bell this time), and the next licorice. A very odd and complex wine. It will not play well with most heavy flavors, but surprisingly it does well with umami. This one is best sipped on its own for the experience. It is a big wine with a curious turbulent nature. Cheers!
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Disappointing. Sweet, almost port-like. Brambly and jammy, with oak on the palate, but all sugar on the finish. Drink up - not likely to improve from here.
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Napa Valley Wine and Food Excursion 2013; 9/30/2013-10/5/2013 (Napa Valley, California): This deep ruby Zinfandel shows spicy wild berry, licorice and black pepper aromas. Medium-bodied and round on the palate, it follows with flavors of Bing cherries, melted licorice, sage and clove. The medium-weight tannins are nicely integrated, while the alcohol (15.3%) is a bit warming throughout the middle. Concluding with a medium-length, slightly hot finish, this is a wine which demands the appropriate serving temperature (60-65° F). Drink now-2018.
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Opaque purple in color. 15.3% ABV. 98% Zinfandel and 2% Petite Sirah. Jammy and rich. A nose of anise, vanilla, cherry and pepper. Iron, blood, plum, raspberry, cherry and white pepper on the palate. Medium acidity. The finish is long and spicy. This wine could use another year or so in the cellar to come together.
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Very fruit dominant nose, cherries, ripe berries, jammy. Same on the palate with some herbal notes as well. Lacking acidity in my view and length. A bit one-dimensional.
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Nose of cranberry, currant, underbrush, sage and white pepper. Some herbal notes. Hints of anise and plum. All red and purple fruit. On the palate, loamy and nicely balanced. Strong herbal element and driven by plum fruit. Wild berry, marionberry and blackberry nuances as well. Sage, brush and hints of green with some tomato leaf. Perhaps this needs a bit more time to integrate and evolve. I generally like Grgich zinfandel more.
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A Taste of Grgich Hill Estate: Dark ruby color with cherry, plum and vanilla aromas. On the palate, it's light/medium-bodied, and balanced with medium acidity, and dark cherry, raspberry, and spiced vanilla flavors. Medium+ finish
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Mulberry appearance. Rustic and peppery, earthy and irony; notes of blackberries, spiced plum, crushed rocks, red pepper flakes, and Asian spice. The finish packs iron minerality, spice, and Zinfandel heat. I can see this pairing well with grilled meat.
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Excellent older style Zin, well balanced acidity and sweetness. This paired very well with a BBQ pulled pork. The spices in the pork enhanced the peppery flavors of the wine.
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Dark crimson, blackberry compote, black pepper and smoky black cherry on the nose, rich and suave on the palate with loads of black fruit, espresso, tea leaves and dusty tannins, finish is dark and layered with smoked meats and black cherry liqueur
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I couldn't figure out the nose, interesting, but at a restaurant with clients so I couldn't keep shoving my nose in the glass. Well balanced and perfectly ripe fruit. Medium plus finish.
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Blind Zinfandels; 2/3/2013-2/6/2013 (My Place - Washington, DC): Deep and alluring aromas of blackberry and raspberry jam, along with some rose petals and sweet chocolate. Firm tannins and medium acid provide solid structure to support the gobs of red plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit. Secondary flavors of toast, graphite and tobacco leaf add complexity. Big and viscous, but not at all overbearing. From the attack to the long, creamy finish, this is a pure pleasure to drink. Another zin that could last easily for two or three years. Co-fermented with 2% petite sirah.
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12/25/2023 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 93 Points
A gift from a friend who does not love zin. Served with our Christmas dinner which is a reprise of Thanksgiving.
This wine was rich and fool bodied with incredible balance. Lots of very dark fruit, modest tannins, depth and complexity. Layers of flavor and a true complement to the meal.
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1/5/2021 - Johnnycakes30 wrote:
Nose was nice and jammy flavor was pretty thin and flat. Not much left to this one probably should have drank it many years ago.
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2/25/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Shockingly not nearly as good as I thought it would be. Never seemed to really wake up aromatically or have enough freshness on the palate.
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8/10/2019 - rgprints Likes this wine: 93 Points
Held up extremely well.
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4/29/2018 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
I found this bottle to be drinking very well at the moment. For sure, it is not a big, jammy Zin packed with flavor. I didn't try it in its youth, but I'd wager it was never like that. At this age, it is very dry and subtly fruited, with some tea like nuances and is more reminiscent of dried fruit. Some Zin pepper in there too. Good balance with good length on the finish. Really enjoyed this. I disagree with those that think this is past its prime, at least for my palate, but I shy away from the big super fruity Zins.
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1/14/2017 - JenVinoCO wrote: 83 Points
Past it's prime.
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1/12/2017 - Barolo Raymond wrote: 88 Points
Open for ~2 hr. Deep purple-ruby, very viscous @15.3% abv. Medium aromas of black berry, bramble, white pepper, graphite, and volatiles. Off-dry, low acidity, medium(-) tannin, high alcohol and full body. Medium(+) soft-sweet palate of black berry, blueberry jam, notes of raisins, licorice, leather, bay leave, smoke, pepper. Concentrated and balanced. Good length with sweet-bitter finish with some chalky tannins. Low QPR @
$30.
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11/14/2015 - Craig15 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bursting red fruit on the nose with a hint of graphite showing through. The acidity has mostly integrated but there is still some brightness behind the spicy goodness. Ripe berry and stone fruit shine. One bottle left and I will likely drink it in the next year.
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3/28/2015 - Nashwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hints of cherry and dried fruit/berries- very smooth. Not especially fruity. Expected a bit more spice and found the spice after it had opened up.
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3/27/2015 - KenPlace wrote: 89 Points
Spicy character, smooth, in balance, but not overly complex or long. Nice wine for BBQ ribs.
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1/1/2015 - Carsten Madsen wrote: 90 Points
Light, cherry, fruity, smooth, some spices
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11/21/2014 - Buttonmantai wrote: 90 Points
At Hardware gill in Edmonton with the Rahn's. Very good
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10/26/2014 - Trelos Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very dark purple tart berries and dried black fruit on the nose with a hint of sage and pepper. Quite sweet and surprising for a zin, almost port like, was expecting a little more pepper and spice, but the fruit really came through. Quite a surprising Zinfandel.
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10/5/2014 - helispud Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine. The expected pepper and red fruit but with added complxity with time in the glass.
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7/13/2014 - alfaverde Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was a totally fascinating wine in that it wasn't like any other zin I've ever tasted. It has some of the usual stuff like pepper and ripe red fruit, but this one is all about how it plays out in the glass. The flavors and nose morph quite a bit minute by minute. One minute there is sage and spice and the next more pepper (bell this time), and the next licorice. A very odd and complex wine. It will not play well with most heavy flavors, but surprisingly it does well with umami. This one is best sipped on its own for the experience. It is a big wine with a curious turbulent nature. Cheers!
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2/14/2014 - azwino wrote: 87 Points
Not blown away by any means - No notes - but opened the 2008 and 2009 in sequence. The 2008 was better.
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1/31/2014 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 86 Points
Disappointing. Sweet, almost port-like. Brambly and jammy, with oak on the palate, but all sugar on the finish. Drink up - not likely to improve from here.
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1/19/2014 - dboatguy Likes this wine: 91 Points
super wine
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10/2/2013 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 87 Points
Napa Valley Wine and Food Excursion 2013; 9/30/2013-10/5/2013 (Napa Valley, California): This deep ruby Zinfandel shows spicy wild berry, licorice and black pepper aromas. Medium-bodied and round on the palate, it follows with flavors of Bing cherries, melted licorice, sage and clove. The medium-weight tannins are nicely integrated, while the alcohol (15.3%) is a bit warming throughout the middle. Concluding with a medium-length, slightly hot finish, this is a wine which demands the appropriate serving temperature (60-65° F). Drink now-2018.
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9/30/2013 - tomlee wrote: 88 Points
Opaque purple in color. 15.3% ABV. 98% Zinfandel and 2% Petite Sirah. Jammy and rich. A nose of anise, vanilla, cherry and pepper. Iron, blood, plum, raspberry, cherry and white pepper on the palate. Medium acidity. The finish is long and spicy. This wine could use another year or so in the cellar to come together.
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8/11/2013 - rossi.wine wrote: 86 Points
Very fruit dominant nose, cherries, ripe berries, jammy. Same on the palate with some herbal notes as well. Lacking acidity in my view and length. A bit one-dimensional.
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6/24/2013 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great zinfandel nose, a tad more restrained tha other producers, great balance and length, good stuff!
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5/10/2013 - vegasoenophile wrote: 86 Points
Nose of cranberry, currant, underbrush, sage and white pepper. Some herbal notes. Hints of anise and plum. All red and purple fruit. On the palate, loamy and nicely balanced. Strong herbal element and driven by plum fruit. Wild berry, marionberry and blackberry nuances as well. Sage, brush and hints of green with some tomato leaf. Perhaps this needs a bit more time to integrate and evolve. I generally like Grgich zinfandel more.
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4/18/2013 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
A Taste of Grgich Hill Estate: Dark ruby color with cherry, plum and vanilla aromas. On the palate, it's light/medium-bodied, and balanced with medium acidity, and dark cherry, raspberry, and spiced vanilla flavors. Medium+ finish
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4/10/2013 - Baron Slick wrote: 87 Points
Mulberry appearance. Rustic and peppery, earthy and irony; notes of blackberries, spiced plum, crushed rocks, red pepper flakes, and Asian spice. The finish packs iron minerality, spice, and Zinfandel heat. I can see this pairing well with grilled meat.
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4/5/2013 - StageOneRacing Likes this wine: 88 Points
Excellent older style Zin, well balanced acidity and sweetness. This paired very well with a BBQ pulled pork. The spices in the pork enhanced the peppery flavors of the wine.
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3/8/2013 - duchamp wrote: 91 Points
Dark crimson, blackberry compote, black pepper and smoky black cherry on the nose, rich and suave on the palate with loads of black fruit, espresso, tea leaves and dusty tannins, finish is dark and layered with smoked meats and black cherry liqueur
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2/28/2013 - brigcampbell wrote: 87 Points
I couldn't figure out the nose, interesting, but at a restaurant with clients so I couldn't keep shoving my nose in the glass. Well balanced and perfectly ripe fruit. Medium plus finish.
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2/4/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 Points
Blind Zinfandels; 2/3/2013-2/6/2013 (My Place - Washington, DC): Deep and alluring aromas of blackberry and raspberry jam, along with some rose petals and sweet chocolate. Firm tannins and medium acid provide solid structure to support the gobs of red plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit. Secondary flavors of toast, graphite and tobacco leaf add complexity. Big and viscous, but not at all overbearing. From the attack to the long, creamy finish, this is a pure pleasure to drink. Another zin that could last easily for two or three years. Co-fermented with 2% petite sirah.
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12/28/2012 - scott.simpson wrote: 89 Points
Raspberry taste, generally good.
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