The 2012 Mancini Ranch Zinfandel is moderately opaque and medium garnet in color with ruby hues. Once this opens up, the nose showcases aromas of tart cherry, strawberry rhubarb, dried raspberry, aged leather, forest floor, truffles, smoked red meat, savory green herbs, baking spice, and cedar. On the palate, I get notes of blackberry, blueberry, cherry pie, dusty strawberry, red licorice, dried tobacco, damp earth, mushroom, cinnamon, pepper, and slight oak. The wine is medium-bodied with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins, and a medium (+) length finish. Overall this is very well-balanced and a complex depiction of old-school Zinfandel that upon tasting does not seem like anything from California.
Last bottle and in a lovely place. Was really showing an Italian sour cherry note with some pleasantly medicinal complexity. Tannins are still faint, so the structure is not here much longer. The texture, however, is lush and smooth. Wonderful when you need a low tannin red.
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Name: 2012 Joseph Swan Mancini Ranch Zinfandel _________ My rating: 92 _________ My price: Forget exact price, but think this was around $30 from @weygandtwines . Best available $28 online. _________ My wife and I shared this for Mother’s Day, and I have to say this bottle was nothing like I was expecting. Full of surprises, but in a good way I think. The nose is a cross between an aged Bordeaux and a Pinot noir, with sweet red fruit, aged saddle leather and earth. On the palate I would say this is closer to a fine and complex Pinot noir than 90% of the robust zinfandels I’ve ever tasted. At only 12.9%, this is restrained and light to medium weight. This is so bright but still complex. Mostly red fruit, nice acidity and some slight leather and baking spices. It ends with a slightly sour, but really pleasant and long finish. All the pieces work together and this is elegant and seamless, keeping you coming back for another sip. Surprised I’m rating this so high, but this is a really fun and great wine. ______ #zinfandel #caliwine #wine #winetasting #dcwine #2012vintage #redwine #winewithfamily #winewithfriends #winelover #mothersday2019 #sonoma #sonomawine
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Not unlike my previous note, but perhaps a step further in its development. Floral notes are more subtle, cherry and rhubarb much more pronounced. There is the faintest touch of sweetness to the fruit, has a very pleasant sour finish that balances everything. Tannins are hardly there, which makes this wonderful with venison. Still reminds me of something restrained and Italian.
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No formal notes - over dinner. Very fruit driven and quite linear, but really well balanced with good acidity and elegance. Slightly spicy with soft, polished tannins. Drink or keep. 89-91?
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A nose of black cherry and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied single vineyard Zin, with black cherry, plum, licorice and white pepper on finish. Better values out there in this price range. www.winelx.com
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What a gorgeous Zin. So earthy and savory on the nose with red cherries, red apple peel and raspberries. Palate is dusty and fresh and elegant, with crisp red fruits and loads of mushroom, earth, lots of different spicy elements. A Zinfandel to which the term "Burgundian" oddly applies.
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Historic Vineyard Society Tasting, nose of red cherry, boysenberry, and allspice, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, fairly mouth filling fruit, slightly subdued today, not as rich as I remember their Zinfandel, medium/long finish.
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A gathering of wine geeks (The Greater Boston Area): Similar to the last bottle I opened in the last month. Scents of spice, leather, blueberries, earth, and wild strawberry are present and as the wine washes across the palate as notes of sour cherry, pomegranate, and wild strawberry linger on the palate. Served blind a lot of people thought this was Alto-Piemonte as it's just so light and elegant while also showing some delicately bold red fruit notes. Just the kind of wine I want to drink and enjoy myself. One heck of a curve-ball for people that think they don't like Zinfandel.
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elegant while still rich, master of zin, nuanced and pretty, not your fruitbomb cherry coke wine people associate the grape with, a true noble expression of the varietal
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Very well crafted, elegant, low alcohol, refined zin. Dark cherries, orange peel, white pepper, and mineral notes. Became much more complex after 2 hour decant. I'd buy again in place of a pinot, but I like my zins larger than this. Drink now.
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I think that this is a wine that jonysan described almost to a tee. This is pale and see-through in the glass. Scents of spice, leather, blueberries, earth, and wild strawberry are present and as the wine washes across the palate as notes of sour cherry, pomegranate, and wild strawberry linger on the palate. This is such a lovely and elegant vision of what Zinfandel can be. I'd gladly re-buy this anytime I needed a red wine to pair with most any dinner. Outstanding.
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If the "pursuit of balance" Pinot crowd were into Zins, this would be their wine...Low alcohol, restrained, bright fruit...Not your typical brambly, fruit forward, higher alcohol, spicy Zin...I liked it because of the difference, but I like my typical Carlisle, Bedrock, Turley types better.
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On the nose- High toned red fruits, bright cherries, strawberries, fresh raspberries, rose petal, blood orange, a bit of mint, earthy tones
On the palate- High toned red fruits with a mix of bright cherries and strawberries along with raspberries, a bit of rose petal and blood orange mixed in as well, a hint of mint and earthy tones round out the palate, this wine is very refind and a great classic example of a cool climate russian river zinfandel from a outstanding producer, this wine has fantastic fruit with nice bright acid on the finish everything is well intergrated, this wine is drinking well now but could age 8-10 years if not much longer
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Most interesting Zin I've had. Floral profile with rhubarb tinged kumquat fruit and something distinctly Piedmontese in the minerality. I get the references to Burgundy, but this definitely reminded of Barbaresco at times, though with less tannic structure. Huge amount of personality which always sells well for me.
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Light crimson in color. 12.9% ABV. Pretty nose of red and black fruits, cocoa powder and flowers. Medium body with medium acidity. Elegant, Claret style Zinfandel. Black cherry, strawberry and plums on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Easy to drink but slightly underwhelming compared to previous vintages. Best over the next few years.
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Beautiful bouquet. Perfumed fresh red fruits highlighted with crushed raspberry and accompanied by kumquat and rose petal. Light bodied and elegant in restraint. Jam is there, but this zin is not jammy. Flavors of blood orange, raspberry, and a concluding dollop of mint. Wonderful interplay of early picking and fresh fruit and refinement.
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You can tell this is a cooler climate Zinfandel, and in texture and spirit it is of the Burgundian style. But, it is quite one dimensional. Not that it isn't pleasurable, just that the pleasure only goes so far. Drink over the next few years, but doesn't have the stuffing to go a long way or for much to develop. It has quite a lot of ripe/sweet fruit but they aren't that well defined. Perhaps the variety lacks acid to refresh the palate from the ripe fruit assault.
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A vertical of Joseph Swan Zins (Scott & Jo's): A very nice wine, but my least favorite wine, probably as it was the least interesting. Purple in color. The nose has black cherries, spice and slight floral notes. On the palate, this is accessible and open. Drinking very well. Round. A good amount of fruit but not a monster. Nice finish. Solid wine.
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11/28/2021 - JFW wrote:
11.28.21 inventory adjust.
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7/7/2021 - chbeaumont wrote: 92 Points
Garne: explosive bouquet, measured, red fruits; remarkably fresh feel, well proportioned; lively finish. Drink soon.
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3/9/2020 - bensony Likes this wine: 92 Points
The 2012 Mancini Ranch Zinfandel is moderately opaque and medium garnet in color with ruby hues. Once this opens up, the nose showcases aromas of tart cherry, strawberry rhubarb, dried raspberry, aged leather, forest floor, truffles, smoked red meat, savory green herbs, baking spice, and cedar. On the palate, I get notes of blackberry, blueberry, cherry pie, dusty strawberry, red licorice, dried tobacco, damp earth, mushroom, cinnamon, pepper, and slight oak. The wine is medium-bodied with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins, and a medium (+) length finish. Overall this is very well-balanced and a complex depiction of old-school Zinfandel that upon tasting does not seem like anything from California.
100% Zinfandel; 12.9% ABV
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1/3/2020 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last bottle and in a lovely place. Was really showing an Italian sour cherry note with some pleasantly medicinal complexity. Tannins are still faint, so the structure is not here much longer. The texture, however, is lush and smooth. Wonderful when you need a low tannin red.
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5/12/2019 - JeremyBernton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Name: 2012 Joseph Swan Mancini Ranch Zinfandel
_________
My rating: 92
_________
My price: Forget exact price, but think this was around $30 from @weygandtwines . Best available $28 online.
_________
My wife and I shared this for Mother’s Day, and I have to say this bottle was nothing like I was expecting. Full of surprises, but in a good way I think. The nose is a cross between an aged Bordeaux and a Pinot noir, with sweet red fruit, aged saddle leather and earth. On the palate I would say this is closer to a fine and complex Pinot noir than 90% of the robust zinfandels I’ve ever tasted. At only 12.9%, this is restrained and light to medium weight. This is so bright but still complex. Mostly red fruit, nice acidity and some slight leather and baking spices. It ends with a slightly sour, but really pleasant and long finish. All the pieces work together and this is elegant and seamless, keeping you coming back for another sip. Surprised I’m rating this so high, but this is a really fun and great wine.
______
#zinfandel #caliwine #wine #winetasting #dcwine #2012vintage #redwine #winewithfamily #winewithfriends #winelover #mothersday2019 #sonoma #sonomawine
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4/14/2019 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not unlike my previous note, but perhaps a step further in its development. Floral notes are more subtle, cherry and rhubarb much more pronounced. There is the faintest touch of sweetness to the fruit, has a very pleasant sour finish that balances everything. Tannins are hardly there, which makes this wonderful with venison. Still reminds me of something restrained and Italian.
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10/26/2018 - eBoB Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nose: very nice nose of dark fruit with a smoky delicate note.
Taste delicate, fruity slightly sour, pleasant.
Hedonism Wines - £37.90
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10/13/2018 - rossi.wine wrote:
No formal notes - over dinner. Very fruit driven and quite linear, but really well balanced with good acidity and elegance. Slightly spicy with soft, polished tannins. Drink or keep. 89-91?
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8/21/2018 - corkscrews wrote: 87 Points
A nose of black cherry and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied single vineyard Zin, with black cherry, plum, licorice and white pepper on finish. Better values out there in this price range. www.winelx.com
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8/17/2018 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 91 Points
Brought to a Turkish dinner
Ripe red berries, plums. A little bit of oak. Full bodied but very well balanced Zinfandel that’s great with food.
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6/22/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 Points
What a gorgeous Zin. So earthy and savory on the nose with red cherries, red apple peel and raspberries. Palate is dusty and fresh and elegant, with crisp red fruits and loads of mushroom, earth, lots of different spicy elements. A Zinfandel to which the term "Burgundian" oddly applies.
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4/21/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Historic Vineyard Society Tasting, nose of red cherry, boysenberry, and allspice, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, fairly mouth filling fruit, slightly subdued today, not as rich as I remember their Zinfandel, medium/long finish.
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3/10/2018 - Kirk Grant wrote:
A gathering of wine geeks (The Greater Boston Area): Similar to the last bottle I opened in the last month. Scents of spice, leather, blueberries, earth, and wild strawberry are present and as the wine washes across the palate as notes of sour cherry, pomegranate, and wild strawberry linger on the palate. Served blind a lot of people thought this was Alto-Piemonte as it's just so light and elegant while also showing some delicately bold red fruit notes. Just the kind of wine I want to drink and enjoy myself. One heck of a curve-ball for people that think they don't like Zinfandel.
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3/4/2018 - bmches Likes this wine:
elegant while still rich, master of zin, nuanced and pretty, not your fruitbomb cherry coke wine people associate the grape with, a true noble expression of the varietal
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2/20/2018 - Jackstraw212 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very well crafted, elegant, low alcohol, refined zin. Dark cherries, orange peel, white pepper, and mineral notes. Became much more complex after 2 hour decant. I'd buy again in place of a pinot, but I like my zins larger than this. Drink now.
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2/12/2018 - Kirk Grant wrote:
I think that this is a wine that jonysan described almost to a tee. This is pale and see-through in the glass. Scents of spice, leather, blueberries, earth, and wild strawberry are present and as the wine washes across the palate as notes of sour cherry, pomegranate, and wild strawberry linger on the palate. This is such a lovely and elegant vision of what Zinfandel can be. I'd gladly re-buy this anytime I needed a red wine to pair with most any dinner. Outstanding.
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1/11/2018 - jonysan Likes this wine: 91 Points
If the "pursuit of balance" Pinot crowd were into Zins, this would be their wine...Low alcohol, restrained, bright fruit...Not your typical brambly, fruit forward, higher alcohol, spicy Zin...I liked it because of the difference, but I like my typical Carlisle, Bedrock, Turley types better.
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12/1/2017 - WineGeek1989 Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the nose- High toned red fruits, bright cherries, strawberries, fresh raspberries, rose petal, blood orange, a bit of mint, earthy tones
On the palate- High toned red fruits with a mix of bright cherries and strawberries along with raspberries, a bit of rose petal and blood orange mixed in as well, a hint of mint and earthy tones round out the palate, this wine is very refind and a great classic example of a cool climate russian river zinfandel from a outstanding producer, this wine has fantastic fruit with nice bright acid on the finish everything is well intergrated, this wine is drinking well now but could age 8-10 years if not much longer
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11/28/2017 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Most interesting Zin I've had. Floral profile with rhubarb tinged kumquat fruit and something distinctly Piedmontese in the minerality. I get the references to Burgundy, but this definitely reminded of Barbaresco at times, though with less tannic structure. Huge amount of personality which always sells well for me.
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11/18/2017 - tomlee wrote: 88 Points
Light crimson in color. 12.9% ABV. Pretty nose of red and black fruits, cocoa powder and flowers. Medium body with medium acidity. Elegant, Claret style Zinfandel. Black cherry, strawberry and plums on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Easy to drink but slightly underwhelming compared to previous vintages. Best over the next few years.
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10/29/2017 - Elycohn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful bouquet. Perfumed fresh red fruits highlighted with crushed raspberry and accompanied by kumquat and rose petal. Light bodied and elegant in restraint. Jam is there, but this zin is not jammy. Flavors of blood orange, raspberry, and a concluding dollop of mint. Wonderful interplay of early picking and fresh fruit and refinement.
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6/15/2017 - barolo300 Likes this wine: 88 Points
You can tell this is a cooler climate Zinfandel, and in texture and spirit it is of the Burgundian style. But, it is quite one dimensional. Not that it isn't pleasurable, just that the pleasure only goes so far. Drink over the next few years, but doesn't have the stuffing to go a long way or for much to develop. It has quite a lot of ripe/sweet fruit but they aren't that well defined. Perhaps the variety lacks acid to refresh the palate from the ripe fruit assault.
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9/10/2016 - MRichman wrote:
Light for a zin. Cherry, fine tannins, good acidic balance. Good savory earth. Really nice.
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1/25/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points
A vertical of Joseph Swan Zins (Scott & Jo's): A very nice wine, but my least favorite wine, probably as it was the least interesting. Purple in color. The nose has black cherries, spice and slight floral notes. On the palate, this is accessible and open. Drinking very well. Round. A good amount of fruit but not a monster. Nice finish. Solid wine.
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