Overall, a smooth drinking Zinfandel that hides the 15% alcohol and still displays some youthfulness. Subdued nose that reflects the predominate flavors of mixed berry jam and black pepper spice that both pleasantly linger on a medium finish. This wine is drinking wonderfully now, but should have a least two more good years ahead depending on how it’s cellared.
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Cork pulled rather dehydrated on the front 40 percent. Remaining 60 percent was good. This wine is not designed for cellaring. The aroma of the glass was fair with subtle lacing noted on the glass. The taste was CLASSIC Zinfandel wine. I ranked it 91 vs. 89 since it did stick rather true to Zinfandel form without being a Lodi or Paso Robles "Jam Bomb" that a lot of Zinfandels can be. If someone is trying to break into Zins, this is one of the first ones to try. It will definitely not disappoint.
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A deep garnet wine with medium legs. The Frei Brothers Zinfandel Reserve has a nose of earth and black cherry. Tastes of black cherry, cola, juicy acidity and some oak. Tannins are fully integrated, giving a soft texture. Still mouth-coating at this point in time. The finish is black cherry, cola and oak with decent length.
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A ruby wine hinting at purple, with a nose of blackberry, cedar and earth. Throw in a hint of vanilla. Tastes of soft, round blackberry fills the mouth with significant depth, add a peppery note and then a medium finish of blackberry, oak, pepper and earth. The brambly texture has faded and the pepper is a side note. This is definitely in the ready to drink & drinking well now. As I finish the review, I notice my older notes are relatively consistent in scoring, yet shows the fruit to progress from red fruits to dark fruits.
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Earthy with dark fruits and spice. Starts strong, but it's finish is weak. None too complex, but goes well with food. A solid Zin that's able to handle it's fruit.
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Popped and poured. Drank over a couple of hours - with food and by itself. Dark translucent burgundy. Nose of ripe plum, black cherry, licorice, smoke, pepper, and vanilla. Fruit-forward palate of blackberry, minerals, and spice. Refreshing beam of acidity. Subtle tannins and oak. Very good to excellent with food and alone. Not a jammy, fruit-bomb Zin. Not a super-structured wannabe Cabernet Zin. Just a delightful, balanced, food-friendly Zin that is also a very good value. Addendum: Finished up two whole days later. Still surprisingly vibrant.
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This is a very nice Dry Creek Zin, which continues to drink very well. Nose of earth, dark fruit and smoke. Tastes of bold fruits with a well-rounded mouth feel. The tannins are integrated into a well structured wine and the finish adds some pepper and oak to the fruit.
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popped and poured. Opened with dark fruit and hint of spice on the nose. First tastes were nice red sweet fruit forward, with spice to follow. Medium bodied. As we drank it spice instenified to a very nice full tasting level and a medium finish. Second day, fruit was almost gone and spice predominated. Better to drink on day one.
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Consistent with previous notes. A little too warm on the deck, alcohol is starting to have a strong bite on the finish. A little cooling to the rescue. This is a solid effort from Frei Brothers.
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This bottle seems very different compared to the last bottle that I opened. The nose is very earthy with red fruit. The palate is very smooth and well balanced. Tastes of brambly red fruit and pepper. The finish has medium length and red fruit, and has no sense of high alcohol. Excellent by itself and a juicy steak only makes it that much better.
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Plum, sweet cherry, vanilla, white pepper, spices all come together nicely and are supported by ripe, integrated tannins. Ends with a pepper and cedar note. - JD90
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The nose abounds with red berries and spice and has a medium body with ruby to purple color. The taste is heavy on red fruit and the standard brambly roughness seen in Zinfandels. The tannins are supple, and take a backseat to the finish of red and blue fruits, which eventually fade into a faint nip of rubber band. This is ready to drink right now. A very solid QPR. Very enjoyable by itself!
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9/6/2012 - Bob in NC wrote: 88 Points
Overall, a smooth drinking Zinfandel that hides the 15% alcohol and still displays some youthfulness. Subdued nose that reflects the predominate flavors of mixed berry jam and black pepper spice that both pleasantly linger on a medium finish. This wine is drinking wonderfully now, but should have a least two more good years ahead depending on how it’s cellared.
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6/13/2012 - Johnnystand wrote: 84 Points
Starting to move beyond its prime
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9/5/2011 - mflesh wrote: 91 Points
Cork pulled rather dehydrated on the front 40 percent. Remaining 60 percent was good. This wine is not designed for cellaring. The aroma of the glass was fair with subtle lacing noted on the glass. The taste was CLASSIC Zinfandel wine. I ranked it 91 vs. 89 since it did stick rather true to Zinfandel form without being a Lodi or Paso Robles "Jam Bomb" that a lot of Zinfandels can be. If someone is trying to break into Zins, this is one of the first ones to try. It will definitely not disappoint.
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4/23/2011 - Whecht wrote: 89 Points
A great California Zin with a bit more going on than Ravenswood (I've no idea the cost to say which is a better value) but we like this one a bit more
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12/13/2010 - The Kokopelli wrote: 88 Points
A deep garnet wine with medium legs. The Frei Brothers Zinfandel Reserve has a nose of earth and black cherry. Tastes of black cherry, cola, juicy acidity and some oak. Tannins are fully integrated, giving a soft texture. Still mouth-coating at this point in time. The finish is black cherry, cola and oak with decent length.
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8/16/2010 - The Kokopelli wrote: 89 Points
A ruby wine hinting at purple, with a nose of blackberry, cedar and earth. Throw in a hint of vanilla. Tastes of soft, round blackberry fills the mouth with significant depth, add a peppery note and then a medium finish of blackberry, oak, pepper and earth. The brambly texture has faded and the pepper is a side note. This is definitely in the ready to drink & drinking well now. As I finish the review, I notice my older notes are relatively consistent in scoring, yet shows the fruit to progress from red fruits to dark fruits.
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5/21/2010 - AlkiTrader wrote: 90 Points
An excellent Zin for the price. Good nose, great spice and lots of fruit.
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3/25/2010 - finewein wrote: 88 Points
Nice classic Cali zin, very good qpr - solid wine, but i prefer ravenswood lodi for a few $ less perhaps
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1/22/2010 - Scharper wrote: 87 Points
Earthy with dark fruits and spice. Starts strong, but it's finish is weak. None too complex, but goes well with food. A solid Zin that's able to handle it's fruit.
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11/7/2009 - soyhead wrote: 87 Points
nose - grapey
mouth - juicy fruit. a touch simplistic but very serviceable. lacks complexity but its core fruit is very pleasing. a quaffer
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11/5/2009 - Wink wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Drank over a couple of hours - with food and by itself. Dark translucent burgundy. Nose of ripe plum, black cherry, licorice, smoke, pepper, and vanilla. Fruit-forward palate of blackberry, minerals, and spice. Refreshing beam of acidity. Subtle tannins and oak. Very good to excellent with food and alone. Not a jammy, fruit-bomb Zin. Not a super-structured wannabe Cabernet Zin. Just a delightful, balanced, food-friendly Zin that is also a very good value. Addendum: Finished up two whole days later. Still surprisingly vibrant.
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10/16/2009 - The Kokopelli wrote: 90 Points
This is a very nice Dry Creek Zin, which continues to drink very well. Nose of earth, dark fruit and smoke. Tastes of bold fruits with a well-rounded mouth feel. The tannins are integrated into a well structured wine and the finish adds some pepper and oak to the fruit.
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10/14/2009 - pmk wrote: 89 Points
popped and poured. Opened with dark fruit and hint of spice on the nose. First tastes were nice red sweet fruit forward, with spice to follow. Medium bodied. As we drank it spice instenified to a very nice full tasting level and a medium finish. Second day, fruit was almost gone and spice predominated. Better to drink on day one.
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7/25/2009 - oaklandwinelover wrote: 80 Points
Cherry jello
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7/17/2009 - The Kokopelli wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous notes. A little too warm on the deck, alcohol is starting to have a strong bite on the finish. A little cooling to the rescue. This is a solid effort from Frei Brothers.
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7/11/2009 - The Kokopelli wrote: 91 Points
This bottle seems very different compared to the last bottle that I opened. The nose is very earthy with red fruit. The palate is very smooth and well balanced. Tastes of brambly red fruit and pepper. The finish has medium length and red fruit, and has no sense of high alcohol. Excellent by itself and a juicy steak only makes it that much better.
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7/5/2009 - Tuffdawg wrote: 87 Points
Pretty oaky zin. Good mouthfeel, nice red fruit but finish is a bit short.
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5/22/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 90 Points
Plum, sweet cherry, vanilla, white pepper, spices all come together nicely and are supported by ripe, integrated tannins. Ends with a pepper and cedar note. - JD90
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4/2/2009 - The Kokopelli wrote: 90 Points
The nose abounds with red berries and spice and has a medium body with ruby to purple color. The taste is heavy on red fruit and the standard brambly roughness seen in Zinfandels. The tannins are supple, and take a backseat to the finish of red and blue fruits, which eventually fade into a faint nip of rubber band. This is ready to drink right now. A very solid QPR. Very enjoyable by itself!
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