Just stumbled upon this etched bottle stashed away in its little coffin amongst my Halloween decorations and promptly freaked out that I had waited long past its prime to drink. Plus, just stored in my basement all these years. Happily it's still drinking quite well... pleasantly surprised. Tannins still strong and structured! Delicious!!
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This seems to be improving with some time in the bottle. Lovely fruit with some spiciness. Alcohol has mellowed from the tail end. Hoping this will continue to evolve over the next few months.
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Maturing in a nice zin. Poizins seem to take a year or two after release to really hit their peak drinkability. Woe be to [s]he whom cracketh one upon the year of release.
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On night one, this was not very appealing. Very hot at first, with very little other redeeming qualities. I had two glasses and put it away with the idea of trying it the next evening. It was stored in the fridge after using a simple oxygen pump. I was called away on business and was unable to drink until 4 days later. I was leary about how it would hold up, but lo and behold, it was actually better! Much more structure without the overwheling alcohol. Next time I will open and decant and see how that opens up this wine.
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I heard this had past its peak. It's not as appealing as the first few I had last year but it's still nice. I'd say it's a typical big fruity bold Cali zin. It's a little astringent. Probably better with food. Will try chicken pot pie. :-) 1hr later with CPP and dark chocolate: aromas of 1970s Radio Shack were coming through earlier, now dominating. dark chocolate helps what's left of this wine. Way too expensive at over $20 for what it is!
I think someone at Armida doesn't know how to read a hydrometer! 14.5% is a severe underestimate IMHO. One glass limit here. Alas, I don't think this will be worth continuing on Day 2.
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Had a tasting of this at Total Wine in Tustin, CA. Quick notes... color: medium-purplish-red. nose: lots of dark fruit. aromatic. palate: fruity attack, not a lot of complexity, but fairly balanced. Didn't think it was as hot as everyone else described. Finish was clean. As Armida describes it, this is a really good everyday zin. Just not sure it's a good value at $25. Didn't have any of the spicy kick you want from a zinfandel. Base 50, Color 5, Nose 11, Palate 14, Balance/Finish 7 = 87 (Very Good)
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top is ascrewed holding back the hot long legs that wrap around your glass. the dark purple liquid stains your teeth. it's like a lumberjack's cologne on your tongue, longing to have a slab of meat sooth the grippy mouth-feel. the hard spicy wood finds its way into your head after it smashes up all the dark fruit that is letting loose on your shriveled palette.
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Lots of raspberries and jammy, plummy blackberries over spice. Pretty one-dimensional, and not as intense as the prior two vintages -- lower alcohol contributes to that (this year is 14.5% ABV, versus 15% in '06 and 15.5% in '05). Good if you like fruit-bomby zins.
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Smooth and generally good cocktail wine the name is great but the taste that you expect from the name is not what this bottle contains. I did notice a bit of a dryness from the wine so next time will will have this with food.
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This vintage was not as good as other vintages. A lot of oak and vanilla, not enough fruit and spice flavors. Still OK, but a bit of a disappointment from previous years.
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In short, this reminds me a lot of the 2006 vintage. Not a whole to speak of when you initially pop and pour. A lot of heat with some notes of red berries that's reflected on the palate as well. However, as with the 2006, after letting it sit out for a bit it really starts to open up. While the heat still lingers, it takes a backseat to the jammy fruit that this wine hits you with while having just the right amount of tannins from a wine like this that you'd expect. This wine, however, really does need time to breathe in order to be properly enjoyed although there really isn't a way to get around that 15%abv
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Ran it through the Decantus. Huge nose of jammy red fruit and vanilla. Very tasty, but very one dimensional. Very good at what it does, which is blow your face off with red fruit and vanilla whipped cream, but this is also what keeps it from being anything more than another Cali fruitbomb Zin.
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10/20/2020 - 2020cellardepletion! Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just stumbled upon this etched bottle stashed away in its little coffin amongst my Halloween decorations and promptly freaked out that I had waited long past its prime to drink. Plus, just stored in my basement all these years. Happily it's still drinking quite well... pleasantly surprised. Tannins still strong and structured! Delicious!!
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10/16/2011 - Winokdub wrote: 90 Points
Really peaking right now. Better than bottle 9 months ago. Sadly tonight's was my last. Should still be excellent another year or so. Enjoy
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9/6/2011 - schuey wrote: 88 Points
This seems to be improving with some time in the bottle. Lovely fruit with some spiciness. Alcohol has mellowed from the tail end. Hoping this will continue to evolve over the next few months.
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9/1/2011 - chartle wrote: 90 Points
A favorite!
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6/4/2011 - patent_atty wrote: 88 Points
Great nose; classic zin; good body and smooth aftertaste; higher alcohol
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1/10/2011 - Winokdub wrote: 88 Points
Very good, above average on all levels. Not outstanding and should be consumed sooner rather than later.
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10/31/2010 - HitAnyKey wrote:
A nice big, fruity, peppery/spicy zin.
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9/4/2010 - Corrado wrote:
Maturing in a nice zin. Poizins seem to take a year or two after release to really hit their peak drinkability. Woe be to [s]he whom cracketh one upon the year of release.
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4/6/2010 - ckeilah wrote: 85 Points
A good big fruity tannic zin. Goes down nicely with 86% dark chocolate. Yum!
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3/7/2010 - schuey wrote: 87 Points
On night one, this was not very appealing. Very hot at first, with very little other redeeming qualities. I had two glasses and put it away with the idea of trying it the next evening. It was stored in the fridge after using a simple oxygen pump. I was called away on business and was unable to drink until 4 days later. I was leary about how it would hold up, but lo and behold, it was actually better! Much more structure without the overwheling alcohol. Next time I will open and decant and see how that opens up this wine.
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2/23/2010 - Fogcity54 wrote:
Drank this bottle around the New Year - like this one a lot.
3/8/10 - Continue to enjoy this wine....easy sipping.
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2/14/2010 - ckeilah wrote: 84 Points
I heard this had past its peak. It's not as appealing as the first few I had last year but it's still nice. I'd say it's a typical big fruity bold Cali zin. It's a little astringent. Probably better with food. Will try chicken pot pie. :-)
1hr later with CPP and dark chocolate: aromas of 1970s Radio Shack were coming through earlier, now dominating. dark chocolate helps what's left of this wine. Way too expensive at over $20 for what it is!
I think someone at Armida doesn't know how to read a hydrometer! 14.5% is a severe underestimate IMHO. One glass limit here. Alas, I don't think this will be worth continuing on Day 2.
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12/21/2009 - IrvineCellar wrote: 87 Points
Had a tasting of this at Total Wine in Tustin, CA. Quick notes... color: medium-purplish-red. nose: lots of dark fruit. aromatic. palate: fruity attack, not a lot of complexity, but fairly balanced. Didn't think it was as hot as everyone else described. Finish was clean. As Armida describes it, this is a really good everyday zin. Just not sure it's a good value at $25. Didn't have any of the spicy kick you want from a zinfandel.
Base 50, Color 5, Nose 11, Palate 14, Balance/Finish 7 = 87 (Very Good)
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11/25/2009 - cwh wrote: 89 Points
top is ascrewed holding back the hot long legs that wrap around your glass. the dark purple liquid stains your teeth. it's like a lumberjack's cologne on your tongue, longing to have a slab of meat sooth the grippy mouth-feel. the hard spicy wood finds its way into your head after it smashes up all the dark fruit that is letting loose on your shriveled palette.
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11/2/2009 - THaas wrote: 89 Points
Lots of raspberries and jammy, plummy blackberries over spice. Pretty one-dimensional, and not as intense as the prior two vintages -- lower alcohol contributes to that (this year is 14.5% ABV, versus 15% in '06 and 15.5% in '05). Good if you like fruit-bomby zins.
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10/31/2009 - hershelk wrote: 86 Points
Quit hot but a lot of jammy berry flavors helps balance the wine. I preferred the 2006 vintage though.
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10/30/2009 - sojoknuckle Likes this wine: 88 Points
Smooth and generally good cocktail wine the name is great but the taste that you expect from the name is not what this bottle contains. I did notice a bit of a dryness from the wine so next time will will have this with food.
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10/30/2009 - pozawa22 wrote: 82 Points
This vintage was not as good as other vintages. A lot of oak and vanilla, not enough fruit and spice flavors. Still OK, but a bit of a disappointment from previous years.
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10/22/2009 - richc wrote:
In short, this reminds me a lot of the 2006 vintage. Not a whole to speak of when you initially pop and pour. A lot of heat with some notes of red berries that's reflected on the palate as well. However, as with the 2006, after letting it sit out for a bit it really starts to open up. While the heat still lingers, it takes a backseat to the jammy fruit that this wine hits you with while having just the right amount of tannins from a wine like this that you'd expect. This wine, however, really does need time to breathe in order to be properly enjoyed although there really isn't a way to get around that 15%abv
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9/7/2009 - saxwizerd45 wrote: 87 Points
Ran it through the Decantus. Huge nose of jammy red fruit and vanilla. Very tasty, but very one dimensional. Very good at what it does, which is blow your face off with red fruit and vanilla whipped cream, but this is also what keeps it from being anything more than another Cali fruitbomb Zin.
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