This was given to me as a gift. Had a glass last night. Initially had potential to be a good bottle. But after an hour, the bottle became a version of dessert wine. kinda weird. My feelings is that it is past its prime.
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Really liked this - med deep maroon, nose full of brambly Zin fruit, well balanced palate w great boysenberry/blackberry fruit, but also a great pepper edge - smooth and well-balanced, no sign of the hefty 15.50% alc - great Zin.
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Very consistent with the previous bottle. Lush, somewhat jammy, red/black fruit, with a very nice spiciness on the back end. Continues to be one of the best Zins in this price range.
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Decanted for 2 hrs. Crimson tending to purple. While pouring into the decanter, aromas of warm blueberries and baking spices filled the room. By the time we drank it, things had calmed down a little, but it still smelled like a blueberry pie, with hits of licorice and pepper. The palate was mouth-filling, warm and sweet, and very soft with little evidence of acid. Slightly spicy finish... the high alcohol level wasn't too evident. Enjoyable, but in small doses, as nose and palate fatigue would set in quickly. A good wine to enjoy with a group.
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This wine seems to have lost some of it's flavor profile in the last couple of years. While not bad it doesn't have the character it had upon my initial review
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Decanted for a couple of hours. Nice restrained tannins. Cedar and leather notes on the nose. A bit of dark fruit on the pallet. We picked up this bottle 18 months ago; I'll have to see if I can find some more.
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Patience pays off - let it open up 30 - 60 minutes and enjoy. Can't seem to find this in Utah anymore. Too bad - I would enjoy again. Berries gallore, medium body, a short finish.
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Massive Blueberry and spice on the highly extracted nose. Oak is present and well integrated. Decanted two hours before enjoying with grilled NY Strips. Palate found a brambly mixture of blueberry, anise and saddlebag. Fantastic. A heavyweight to be sure, but what a structure of fruit and power, all while integrating 15%. This wine is peaking. I found this much more balanced than I did 5 months ago. CT shows that the window is closing on this beauty; but I say its just finding it's stride.
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Dark purple. Aerated through a Vinturi. Nose of brambly fruit, blackberries, floral and white pepper Rich mouthfeel but smooth black fruit, chocolate,berries and spices Big and jammy, this is a powerful stand-alone wine..
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Big, busy and brambley on the nose. A mixed compote of red and black fruits, with the ever-present and unavoidable scent of a high alcohol content. I thought that time in the decanter would soften this Zin, but it makes no apologies. There is a dance (or maybe a fight) taking place in the glass between fruit and heat, and at some point you don't care which wins.Viscous black fruit on the palate. Hot, hot, hot..........not alcohol, but power. The mid-palate is rife with berries and spice. A long complex finish. As much as it makes me think, I'm not sure if its to my palate; but for those who enjoy a BIG ZIN, it will be hard to find one bigger.
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Only able to decant for about 1 hr. Balanced, not overpowering. Tasted like grapes :-) Wish there was more time to decant. Pleasing but not sure it was worth $35 (garsywine).
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Big and well balanced with smooth structure.Dark purple,plummy jam,with currants and pich of mocca,spice and cedar on te finish with dried fruits. Price is a little high but will buy again .I would like to compare 05 vs 06.
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Clear dark purple. Aromatic nose of blackberry jam, currant. Medium body, medium acidity, smooth small rounded tannins. Jammy blackberry, cedar, and tea leaves muddled with a touch of black olive on the mid-palate. Spicy medium plus finish, a trace of heat. Recommended.
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Awesome - side by side with the Biale Black Chicken - it was jammy-er and bigger (06 Biale BC needs to say on its side for a couple more years). Some friends thought it was too much, but I absolutely loved it. probably the best Zin I have had.
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A big wine but well balanced. Attractive nose of dust, un-sweetened chocolate and plum. The palate evolved over the course of an hour starting out a restrained plums and chocolate then to a greener huckleberry tartness with fairly cloying tannins and then finally softening out somewhat. It's overpriced but I'd buy one more.
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On the nose - Very buttery, dark fruits, spices, and a hint of plum, somewhat reminiscent of Rafanelli. Surprisingly complex with a very strong mouthfeel, lots of ripe fruit, lots of power but a bit more restrained than some of the fruit bombs in the area. A bit pricey for Lodi, but still worth it. Tried alone and with Miso soup and stir fried grass fed beef with veggies.
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One of our favorite of the high level Zin's. Comparable to Biale's Black Chicken. Big everything. Fruit, pucker, density, alcohol, color, etc. Not your old-world stuff by a long stretch... For all the bigness, though, its remarkably balanced and paired fantastically with grilled food. A real treat.
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This was garbage. Over priced with no body, tooooo much sweetness, it had nothing to offer except a pretty label, a very heavy glass bottle, and money missing out of my wallet. This was the third of four in my tastings from the Lodi Suite of Northern California; Perhaps I'm being to harsh but this was my biggest disappointment. The wine has outstanding packaging but nothing in the bottle. Like the the sales person said when I purchased it, it was "spooky" ... yeah, spooky bad. Normally I don't go off on wines because I know several wineries (even in my home state of Washington) struggle to make ends meet, but this was way over priced and had really nothing but Red Boysenberry syrup to offer at the center. Perhaps the bottle was bad ...
Here are the links all the four wines I had from Lodi:
2005 Peltier Station - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=322978 2006 M2 Vintners - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=539208 2005 Klinker Brick "Old Ghost" - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=391166 2006 Draconis Zinfandel American Oak - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=492453
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taste: welcome to chocolate heaven. lots of various chocolate tones with anise, black cherries, and raisins
overall: A really outstanding wine that does what its trying to do to a tee. Big, brash, and full flavors fill the mouth from all sides and it leaves a really good chocolatey finish
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As always, this is a wonderfully rich and tasty wine. Dark fruit, smoke perhaps a little anise and Red Vines towards the end. A thick, chewy mouth feel that leaves you smacking your lips and wanting more.
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Less massive, more impressive. Lodi is known for some monsterous fruit forward zins. Powerful and intense. This is what happens when they grow up and get a job. This is strong, but not overpowering. It is less fruit intensive and you can taste the layers. The cult following is right. It is not quite as polished as Edizione or Scouts Honor, but a perfect medium between. Great wine for an event, it will impress everyone
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Robyn and I bought this and took it to Bandera's for dinner. It was very, very good. Dark Ruby in color, with both dark and red fruits, and spice on the nose. The same carried over to the flavor, nice fruit, mild, sweet tannins, and a nice but not overpowering spiciness. Proabably the best Lodi Zin I've had to date. I plan to buy more.
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No score since I've already scored and find not big changes in this wine over the last few months, except of course now it's getting hard to find ! Previous notes still apply.
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Decanted an hour before dinner. Almost Petite Sirah-like blackness, with some deep purple around the edge. Very concentrated blueberries on the nose. This is a very ripe wine in the mouth, velvety mouthfeel with the most intense sweet zinberry fruits that I've ever tasted. Cracked white pepper on the finish with some toasty oak. Best Old Ghost yet.
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Nose of ripe fruit, almost stewed. Very concentrated/extracted dark berry flavors, black and blue berries, bing cherry notes. Tannins are still very tight and this wine needed lots of time in the glass to calm down. I would reccomend decanting if possible. Lush mouthfeel with a very long smooth and rich finish. Expensive for Lodi Zin, but, as good a zin as is coming from anywhere.
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8/12/2014 - Cuellar's Cellar Does not like this wine: 83 Points
This was given to me as a gift. Had a glass last night. Initially had potential to be a good bottle. But after an hour, the bottle became a version of dessert wine. kinda weird. My feelings is that it is past its prime.
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4/5/2014 - Dan & Krista Stockman Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fabulous. Perfectly aged, drinking at its peak. incredibly smooth despite its massive structure and depth. You never want the bottle to end.
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2/14/2013 - Jvolek wrote: 82 Points
Definately not at it's prime. Lost some flavor over time.
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3/14/2012 - lee.reiswig wrote: 92 Points
OMG! Is this the best Old Ghost ever? Totally in its prime. Not too hot, great fruit and just the right tannins.
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11/6/2011 - winot wrote: 91 Points
Really liked this - med deep maroon, nose full of brambly Zin fruit, well balanced palate w great boysenberry/blackberry fruit, but also a great pepper edge - smooth and well-balanced, no sign of the hefty 15.50% alc - great Zin.
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7/22/2011 - lee.reiswig wrote: 91 Points
Fabulous old vine zin. Time to drink.
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10/7/2010 - TinaLazaruk wrote: 94 Points
Toph 9.0
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7/22/2010 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still has great fruit and is drinking beautifully. Seems to have a few more years left.
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6/26/2010 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very consistent with the previous bottle. Lush, somewhat jammy, red/black fruit, with a very nice spiciness on the back end. Continues to be one of the best Zins in this price range.
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5/21/2010 - rexmerlot wrote: 87 Points
Dark ruby in color. Black fruits on nose. Blackberry and tart cherry on palate. Nice wine, but not great.
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5/9/2010 - jnleroux wrote: 93 Points
Nice easy to drink.
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5/2/2010 - fries Likes this wine:
Decanted for 2 hrs. Crimson tending to purple. While pouring into the decanter, aromas of warm blueberries and baking spices filled the room. By the time we drank it, things had calmed down a little, but it still smelled like a blueberry pie, with hits of licorice and pepper. The palate was mouth-filling, warm and sweet, and very soft with little evidence of acid. Slightly spicy finish... the high alcohol level wasn't too evident. Enjoyable, but in small doses, as nose and palate fatigue would set in quickly. A good wine to enjoy with a group.
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4/9/2010 - darrel_f wrote: 87 Points
This wine seems to have lost some of it's flavor profile in the last couple of years. While not bad it doesn't have the character it had upon my initial review
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3/20/2010 - gestep Likes this wine:
Decanted for a couple of hours. Nice restrained tannins. Cedar and leather notes on the nose. A bit of dark fruit on the pallet. We picked up this bottle 18 months ago; I'll have to see if I can find some more.
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3/19/2010 - pgore Likes this wine: 89 Points
Patience pays off - let it open up 30 - 60 minutes and enjoy. Can't seem to find this in Utah anymore. Too bad - I would enjoy again. Berries gallore, medium body, a short finish.
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3/17/2010 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Massive Blueberry and spice on the highly extracted nose. Oak is present and well integrated. Decanted two hours before enjoying with grilled NY Strips. Palate found a brambly mixture of blueberry, anise and saddlebag. Fantastic. A heavyweight to be sure, but what a structure of fruit and power, all while integrating 15%. This wine is peaking. I found this much more balanced than I did 5 months ago. CT shows that the window is closing on this beauty; but I say its just finding it's stride.
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1/11/2010 - tadhg555 wrote: 91 Points
Drank with pasta with sausage and peppers. Very full, hearty. Nice. (They need to tone down the heft of the bottle, though.)
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12/31/2009 - ksmith wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple. Aerated through a Vinturi. Nose of brambly fruit, blackberries, floral and white pepper Rich mouthfeel but smooth black fruit, chocolate,berries and spices Big and jammy, this is a powerful stand-alone wine..
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12/22/2009 - Sauvyfan wrote: 89 Points
Big, busy and brambley on the nose. A mixed compote of red and black fruits, with the ever-present and unavoidable scent of a high alcohol content. I thought that time in the decanter would soften this Zin, but it makes no apologies. There is a dance (or maybe a fight) taking place in the glass between fruit and heat, and at some point you don't care which wins.Viscous black fruit on the palate. Hot, hot, hot..........not alcohol, but power. The mid-palate is rife with berries and spice. A long complex finish. As much as it makes me think, I'm not sure if its to my palate; but for those who enjoy a BIG ZIN, it will be hard to find one bigger.
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11/1/2009 - chad1616 wrote: 89 Points
A nice spooky treat for Halloween!
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9/7/2009 - stevenjstein wrote: 91 Points
Nice black cherry fruit and spice, but not over the top.
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8/6/2009 - Normones wrote: 91 Points
Should have let this sit in the decanter as it really opened up after about 2 hours in the bottle. wonderful fruit
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5/30/2009 - truenorth wrote: 90 Points
Only able to decant for about 1 hr. Balanced, not overpowering. Tasted like grapes :-) Wish there was more time to decant. Pleasing but not sure it was worth $35 (garsywine).
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5/5/2009 - apnetmedic wrote: 92 Points
Wow. Those who disliked this must've had flawed bottles. Fantastic zin.
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4/20/2009 - terroir wrote: 90 Points
Big and well balanced with smooth structure.Dark purple,plummy jam,with currants and pich of mocca,spice and cedar on te finish with dried fruits.
Price is a little high but will buy again .I would like to compare 05 vs 06.
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4/19/2009 - Amendolia wrote: 91 Points
Clear dark purple. Aromatic nose of blackberry jam, currant. Medium body, medium acidity, smooth small rounded tannins. Jammy blackberry, cedar, and tea leaves muddled with a touch of black olive on the mid-palate. Spicy medium plus finish, a trace of heat. Recommended.
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4/9/2009 - jasonkle wrote: 80 Points
It was okay. Not smooth enough.
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3/7/2009 - WineBovine wrote: flawed
Had to dump it.
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2/3/2009 - Normones wrote: 92 Points
Awesome - side by side with the Biale Black Chicken - it was jammy-er and bigger (06 Biale BC needs to say on its side for a couple more years). Some friends thought it was too much, but I absolutely loved it. probably the best Zin I have had.
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2/2/2009 - Plusvini wrote: 90 Points
A big wine but well balanced. Attractive nose of dust, un-sweetened chocolate and plum. The palate evolved over the course of an hour starting out a restrained plums and chocolate then to a greener huckleberry tartness with fairly cloying tannins and then finally softening out somewhat. It's overpriced but I'd buy one more.
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12/20/2008 - Caring_Bear wrote: 91 Points
On the nose - Very buttery, dark fruits, spices, and a hint of plum, somewhat reminiscent of Rafanelli.
Surprisingly complex with a very strong mouthfeel, lots of ripe fruit, lots of power but a bit more restrained than some of the fruit bombs in the area.
A bit pricey for Lodi, but still worth it.
Tried alone and with Miso soup and stir fried grass fed beef with veggies.
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11/22/2008 - Zintastic wrote:
One of my favorite zin's
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7/27/2008 - lrperkins wrote: 92 Points
One of our favorite of the high level Zin's. Comparable to Biale's Black Chicken. Big everything. Fruit, pucker, density, alcohol, color, etc. Not your old-world stuff by a long stretch... For all the bigness, though, its remarkably balanced and paired fantastically with grilled food. A real treat.
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7/7/2008 - matthewJohns wrote: flawed
This was garbage. Over priced with no body, tooooo much sweetness, it had nothing to offer except a pretty label, a very heavy glass bottle, and money missing out of my wallet. This was the third of four in my tastings from the Lodi Suite of Northern California; Perhaps I'm being to harsh but this was my biggest disappointment. The wine has outstanding packaging but nothing in the bottle. Like the the sales person said when I purchased it, it was "spooky" ... yeah, spooky bad. Normally I don't go off on wines because I know several wineries (even in my home state of Washington) struggle to make ends meet, but this was way over priced and had really nothing but Red Boysenberry syrup to offer at the center. Perhaps the bottle was bad ...
Here are the links all the four wines I had from Lodi:
2005 Peltier Station - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=322978
2006 M2 Vintners - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=539208
2005 Klinker Brick "Old Ghost" - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=391166
2006 Draconis Zinfandel American Oak - http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=492453
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6/19/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
zins and BBQ(with one outsider) (Smoque BBQ, chicago): nose: almost port-like with loads of chocolate, raisins, anise, and blackberry tones
taste: welcome to chocolate heaven. lots of various chocolate tones with anise, black cherries, and raisins
overall: A really outstanding wine that does what its trying to do to a tee. Big, brash, and full flavors fill the mouth from all sides and it leaves a really good chocolatey finish
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5/9/2008 - greening wrote: 93 Points
As always, this is a wonderfully rich and tasty wine. Dark fruit, smoke perhaps a little anise and Red Vines towards the end. A thick, chewy mouth feel that leaves you smacking your lips and wanting more.
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4/7/2008 - tbasler wrote: 91 Points
All the qualities of a fine Zin...lots of dark fruit, tannins (that need decanting for at least 1 hour), long finish, good alcohol balance.
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2/3/2008 - Zintastic wrote:
Less massive, more impressive. Lodi is known for some monsterous fruit forward zins. Powerful and intense. This is what happens when they grow up and get a job.
This is strong, but not overpowering. It is less fruit intensive and you can taste the layers. The cult following is right. It is not quite as polished as Edizione or Scouts Honor, but a perfect medium between. Great wine for an event, it will impress everyone
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2/2/2008 - bn999 wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly good for a Zinfandel
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1/15/2008 - terroir wrote: 91 Points
This a big beauty,very lush and jammy,showing black fruit,some wild berry,spice, and some pepper. Long beautiful finish.
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1/11/2008 - ETrain wrote: 92 Points
Robyn and I bought this and took it to Bandera's for dinner. It was very, very good. Dark Ruby in color, with both dark and red fruits, and spice on the nose. The same carried over to the flavor, nice fruit, mild, sweet tannins, and a nice but not overpowering spiciness. Proabably the best Lodi Zin I've had to date. I plan to buy more.
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12/15/2007 - GB1963 wrote: 90 Points
Rich fruit with tannic backbone and acidity to last for 5 years or more. Very enjoyable.
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11/4/2007 - rloomis wrote:
cedar, dusty fruit, red table grape.
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11/1/2007 - darrel_f wrote:
No score since I've already scored and find not big changes in this wine over the last few months, except of course now it's getting hard to find ! Previous notes still apply.
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9/29/2007 - SuitePhoto wrote: 92 Points
Decanted an hour before dinner. Almost Petite Sirah-like blackness, with some deep purple around the edge. Very concentrated blueberries on the nose. This is a very ripe wine in the mouth, velvety mouthfeel with the most intense sweet zinberry fruits that I've ever tasted. Cracked white pepper on the finish with some toasty oak. Best Old Ghost yet.
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8/5/2007 - darrel_f wrote: 92 Points
Nose of ripe fruit, almost stewed. Very concentrated/extracted dark berry flavors, black and blue berries, bing cherry notes. Tannins are still very tight and this wine needed lots of time in the glass to calm down. I would reccomend decanting if possible. Lush mouthfeel with a very long smooth and rich finish. Expensive for Lodi Zin, but, as good a zin as is coming from anywhere.
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