Popped/poured. Initially too much acid and alcohol. 15 minutes of air helps to balance this out a bit, with the fruit gaining some depth. That said, this still runs a bit hot for my tastes. The underlying flavor profile is excellent...brambly zin typicity. Based on earlier notes that highlight a big fruit presence, I wonder if this isn't on the decline.
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Really big fruit juice. Synth closure. Color: ruby,fading to garnet now. Profound chocolate, earth, and (maybe a little over) ripe fruit. Black fruit on the palate with lots of chocolate and spice - almost taste botrytis (I also suspect poor storage). Medium acidity, smooth, medium+ tannin presence. Very long finish with lots of mocha & vanilla notes. Alcohol is deceptively hidden, which is nice but before we knew it, we're sloshed. The little bit left overnight really fell apart so this is mature and pop n' pour it. (4+12+16+8) = 90
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Nice zin; inky and husky and very much a new world style wine. This is a bold zin showing fruit right away with an upfront nose of fruit. Nice palate of fruit immediately but layered with tobacco and slight chocolate. A nice long finish.
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Nose: Nice blackberry, plum, vanilla and spice. Palate: The flavor components on the nose are on the palate as well, but the alcohol heat is like a blast furnace. I might as well add a little brandy and deem it a port. At 16.5% I'm almost there anyway. Historically I've liked these wines and have a lot of respect for Kent Rosenblum, but this over the top style no longer holds favor. With that said the wine is well made for a new world style Zin if that is to your liking.
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This bottle was not ready for prime time. Much too hot, was much more approachable the 2nd day. Boysenberry and blueberry on the nose and the palate. Hints of cocoa on the finish. I'll wait a couple of years before I open my other bottle. If you want to brave it, be sure to decant a good 3 to 4 hours to burn off the alcohol.
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Compared to the other high-end 2004's, this Rosenblum Zin has a bit more notes of cocoa on the nose and palate. Besides that, the display of dark fruit and spice is nearly identical to the 2004 Sauret. The only other noticable difference, to me, is the initial showing of tannin-- this one starts more tannic straight out of the bottle and takes a few hours to smoothen out.
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Wow! It's amazing what stepping up $20 dollars in the price ladder will provide you versus the Vintner's Cuvee. This wine, composed of 75% Zinfandel 15% Petite Sirah and 10% Carignane, had an exotic nose which consisted of dark fruits (bit of blackberry, bit of currant), chocolate, pepper, and at times eucalyptus/mint that would come and go as the night wore on. Quite an intriguing mix, especially that minty nose. This was one of the first wines that I did not want to drink for some time because the nose just kept on developing for me. At first it was still a little tight, so I let it sit and open up for about another hour, and then the flavors started to come out. On the palate, there was a lot of berries (raspberries and blackberries primarily followed with a hint of strawberry) with some cherries and vanilla elements mixed in. I could not tell that this was a 16.5% alcohol wine either, because the "hotness" was not there and I would have put this at a low 14% instead. The tannins were solid and well balanced in the wine. This is definitely a winner in my books and ends a disappointing experience with Rosenblum. Open now or let sit for a few more years (3-4 max). HS92
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Best Zin I ever tasted. Nose of dried cherry and peppermint. Rasberry, Blueberry and slight smoke. Medium finish. Slight mushroom mid palate also with some chocolate.
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6/8/2014 - lewisrise wrote: 93 Points
This wine has mellowed considerably and is now amazing! Great balance and length. Best Zin I've ever had
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3/4/2012 - Bob & Sue Atlanta wrote: 93 Points
Extremely enjoyable. Huge California Zin, maybe a little bit disjointed but overall very pleasurable.
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9/16/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 88 Points
Popped/poured. Initially too much acid and alcohol. 15 minutes of air helps to balance this out a bit, with the fruit gaining some depth. That said, this still runs a bit hot for my tastes. The underlying flavor profile is excellent...brambly zin typicity. Based on earlier notes that highlight a big fruit presence, I wonder if this isn't on the decline.
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10/22/2008 - vinomand wrote:
drinking beautifully at this point, round, rich and plummy
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6/8/2008 - RonB wrote: 90 Points
Good body, smooth tannins. Rich dark fruit.
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4/18/2008 - fingers wrote: 90 Points
Really big fruit juice. Synth closure. Color: ruby,fading to garnet now. Profound chocolate, earth, and (maybe a little over) ripe fruit. Black fruit on the palate with lots of chocolate and spice - almost taste botrytis (I also suspect poor storage). Medium acidity, smooth, medium+ tannin presence. Very long finish with lots of mocha & vanilla notes. Alcohol is deceptively hidden, which is nice but before we knew it, we're sloshed. The little bit left overnight really fell apart so this is mature and pop n' pour it. (4+12+16+8) = 90
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3/29/2008 - Guitar George wrote: 91 Points
Nice zin; inky and husky and very much a new world style wine. This is a bold zin showing fruit right away with an upfront nose of fruit. Nice palate of fruit immediately but layered with tobacco and slight chocolate. A nice long finish.
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3/8/2008 - Mattshank wrote: 87 Points
Nose: Nice blackberry, plum, vanilla and spice. Palate: The flavor components on the nose are on the palate as well, but the alcohol heat is like a blast furnace. I might as well add a little brandy and deem it a port. At 16.5% I'm almost there anyway. Historically I've liked these wines and have a lot of respect for Kent Rosenblum, but this over the top style no longer holds favor. With that said the wine is well made for a new world style Zin if that is to your liking.
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7/9/2007 - NDrulz wrote: 90 Points
Nice - still needs some time to mellow
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5/6/2007 - lewisrise wrote: 88 Points
This bottle was not ready for prime time. Much too hot, was much more approachable the 2nd day. Boysenberry and blueberry on the nose and the palate. Hints of cocoa on the finish. I'll wait a couple of years before I open my other bottle. If you want to brave it, be sure to decant a good 3 to 4 hours to burn off the alcohol.
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10/24/2006 - RonB wrote: 92 Points
Smooth, rich, pleasant
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10/15/2006 - monty401 wrote: 93 Points
Compared to the other high-end 2004's, this Rosenblum Zin has a bit more notes of cocoa on the nose and palate. Besides that, the display of dark fruit and spice is nearly identical to the 2004 Sauret. The only other noticable difference, to me, is the initial showing of tannin-- this one starts more tannic straight out of the bottle and takes a few hours to smoothen out.
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8/12/2006 - HurrahSyrah wrote: 92 Points
Wow! It's amazing what stepping up $20 dollars in the price ladder will provide you versus the Vintner's Cuvee. This wine, composed of 75% Zinfandel 15% Petite Sirah and 10% Carignane, had an exotic nose which consisted of dark fruits (bit of blackberry, bit of currant), chocolate, pepper, and at times eucalyptus/mint that would come and go as the night wore on. Quite an intriguing mix, especially that minty nose. This was one of the first wines that I did not want to drink for some time because the nose just kept on developing for me. At first it was still a little tight, so I let it sit and open up for about another hour, and then the flavors started to come out. On the palate, there was a lot of berries (raspberries and blackberries primarily followed with a hint of strawberry) with some cherries and vanilla elements mixed in. I could not tell that this was a 16.5% alcohol wine either, because the "hotness" was not there and I would have put this at a low 14% instead. The tannins were solid and well balanced in the wine. This is definitely a winner in my books and ends a disappointing experience with Rosenblum. Open now or let sit for a few more years (3-4 max). HS92
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5/13/2006 - dharri1 wrote: 88 Points
Lots of alcohol. Turbocharged. Very powerful fruit.
Does have a little bit of a gasoline taste to it that is not unpleasant.
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4/17/2005 - lewisrise wrote: 95 Points
Best Zin I ever tasted. Nose of dried cherry and peppermint. Rasberry, Blueberry and slight smoke. Medium finish. Slight mushroom mid palate also with some chocolate.
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