Popped this at my son's 30th birthday dinner (upscale Italian food) in NYC. Pop 'n pour. The color was a cross between a pinot noir and a cab. Mid-weight as someone said below. A hint of a fruit nose. Smooth. Some spice. I didn't taste any jam or much red fruit. While not warm (hot) going down, this wine was warm in my mouth. It ain't no Black Sears. I know Howell Mountain has a good reputation, as does RC. I'd drink up.
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Very enjoyable mid-weight zin, on the red fruit end of the spectrum. Lots of raspberry and red cherry, finishing with a hint of tannic structure. Well done.
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One of the best Zinfandels I have ever had. It drinks more like a Cabernet Sauvignon to me. I tasted it with another favorite Zinfandel, a Ridge Geyserville, and I liked it even better. It is deep, rich and luscious which I rarely find in a Zin.
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Dark inky color, full bodied - full thick chewy forward fruits - black raspberry, ripe plum with tones of mocha, a hint of vanilla and whisper of evergreen on a long moderate tannin finish.
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Just plain great Zinfandel. If you want to treat yourself to some great hearty, but not too cloying and sweet Zin, then I would highly recommend one from the Black Sears Vineyard. Both Robert Craig and D-Cubed make Zins from there - and they are our two favorites.
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Text book Cali Zin - Dark red, well concentrated with a nose of plum, blackberry, spice and vanilla, nicely made, good balance with a touch of 'Zin heat', well structured, sweet, smooth on the palate with a good finish, well done (90 Points).
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bottom line - this wine rocks. If you want a bold Zin, without the overly heavy taste, this is your wine. Something about the Howell Mtn area makes this great Zin!
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Popped and let breathe for about 20 minutes before drinking. Nose was definitely tight when first opened. At first taste, black pepper was predominant on the palate - almost overpowering, and some black fruit. After about an hour, the black pepper subsided and it became a more balanced attack of blackberry and pepper, and perhaps some black cherry as time went on. After the hour mark, we both enjoyed this wine even more. As time went on, the black pepper seemed to continue to subside, but was still pretty heavy on the black pepper. Drank over two hours.
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Yahoo! I am excited to have gotten some of this Zin. What a mouthfeel! So full and round it made my mouth tingle. Jammy and spicy. It is going to be hard to sit this down, but I feel it's really going to age nicely.
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2/23/2015 - dhammer53 wrote: 87 Points
I'd drink this asap if I were you. This is well past it's prime.
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1/5/2015 - Halfeel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not a typical Zin. Still quite good but suggest drinking any remaining bottles fairly soon.
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6/14/2013 - dhammer53 wrote: 88 Points
Popped this at my son's 30th birthday dinner (upscale Italian food) in NYC. Pop 'n pour. The color was a cross between a pinot noir and a cab. Mid-weight as someone said below. A hint of a fruit nose. Smooth. Some spice. I didn't taste any jam or much red fruit. While not warm (hot) going down, this wine was warm in my mouth. It ain't no Black Sears. I know Howell Mountain has a good reputation, as does RC. I'd drink up.
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2/9/2013 - EMTAME wrote: 88 Points
Showing a little more alcohol than my previous bottle, with a liqueur-quality to the fruit. Still, a tasty zin that never approaches jamminess.
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11/13/2012 - EMTAME wrote: 90 Points
Very enjoyable mid-weight zin, on the red fruit end of the spectrum. Lots of raspberry and red cherry, finishing with a hint of tannic structure. Well done.
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12/9/2011 - rcurlee wrote: 92 Points
One of the best Zinfandels I have ever had. It drinks more like a Cabernet Sauvignon to me. I tasted it with another favorite Zinfandel, a Ridge Geyserville, and I liked it even better. It is deep, rich and luscious which I rarely find in a Zin.
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2/17/2011 - Mallards wrote: 86 Points
Still quite good - but my guess is that it is past its peak. Be forewarned - and drink up!
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11/25/2010 - rmcnees wrote: 92 Points
Dark inky color, full bodied - full thick chewy forward fruits - black raspberry, ripe plum with tones of mocha, a hint of vanilla and whisper of evergreen on a long moderate tannin finish.
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11/25/2010 - Mallards wrote: 93 Points
Just plain great Zinfandel. If you want to treat yourself to some great hearty, but not too cloying and sweet Zin, then I would highly recommend one from the Black Sears Vineyard. Both Robert Craig and D-Cubed make Zins from there - and they are our two favorites.
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8/6/2010 - Mallards wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. Big dark fruit. A powerhouse Zin that will knock you right off your stool!
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7/9/2010 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Remains among the best of all California Zins. Big, lush, and exceptional.
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5/21/2010 - Mallards wrote: 91 Points
Still rockin' Susan's world. Big jammy, a taste monster!
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4/28/2010 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Text book Cali Zin - Dark red, well concentrated with a nose of plum, blackberry, spice and vanilla, nicely made, good balance with a touch of 'Zin heat', well structured, sweet, smooth on the palate with a good finish, well done (90 Points).
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12/28/2009 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Similar to previous notes. Big, luscious, peppery, perfect.
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11/22/2009 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Continues to be a Susan favorite.
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11/1/2009 - rmcnees wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied, fruit filled approachable easy drinking zin - black berry, bramble, subtle sweet currant and mocha with a hint of anise and creosote.
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8/5/2009 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Like much better than the 2007. Deep dark fruit flavors combined with a black pepper finish is fantastic.
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5/19/2009 - Mallards wrote: 93 Points
Matches previous notes
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3/22/2009 - Mallards wrote: 93 Points
bottom line - this wine rocks. If you want a bold Zin, without the overly heavy taste, this is your wine. Something about the Howell Mtn area makes this great Zin!
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2/20/2009 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with other notes.
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1/24/2009 - Mallards wrote: 88 Points
We weren't as impressed with this bottle. A bit cloying, too big and sweet. Hoping this was just an anomaly.
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1/19/2009 - flwinos wrote: 90 Points
Popped and let breathe for about 20 minutes before drinking. Nose was definitely tight when first opened. At first taste, black pepper was predominant on the palate - almost overpowering, and some black fruit. After about an hour, the black pepper subsided and it became a more balanced attack of blackberry and pepper, and perhaps some black cherry as time went on. After the hour mark, we both enjoyed this wine even more. As time went on, the black pepper seemed to continue to subside, but was still pretty heavy on the black pepper. Drank over two hours.
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12/24/2008 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous two bottles. Big, black peppery - a powerhouse!
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11/23/2008 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous note.
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10/17/2008 - Mallards wrote: 92 Points
A powerhouse, and has moved right to the top of our Zin favorites.
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5/20/2008 - smallhart wrote: 92 Points
Yahoo! I am excited to have gotten some of this Zin. What a mouthfeel! So full and round it made my mouth tingle. Jammy and spicy. It is going to be hard to sit this down, but I feel it's really going to age nicely.
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