Zinfandel

The base Bedrock Zinfandel is an amazing value.  Year in and year out, it is delicious and affordable.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with raspberries, black cherries and bramble.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some char and black pepper.  Nice balance.  Good mouthfeel.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  A great wine with a burger or spaghetti.  

This is 95% Zinfandel with 5% Petite Sirah from Sonoma County.  15,3% abv.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, slight bramble, and smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, raspberries, black raspberries and black pepper with some char.  As Zins go, this is middle of the road in style.  Delicious.  This drinks nicely on its own and will work well with a burger or pizza.  Drink over the next couple years.  

This was a couple of steps better than the 2017.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, some raspberries, a bit of bramble and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is drinking youthfully but delicious.  Light tannins.  Black cherries and some cherry fruit with a bit of baking spice and a bit of black pepper on the finish.  Great on it own, this would work well with grilled meats or fowl.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

Ruby with  purple swirls.  The nose is peppery with black cherries, and char.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and char.  Some warmth on the finish.  This is a very nice, easy drinking Zin that is middle of the road (between Claret and Fruit Bomb) in style.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This will work well with ribs or a burger.  

Another winner from Bedrock.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, brambles, black pepper, and an interesting beef stew note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, fresh black cherry fruit (almost but not quite pie filling) with some black pepper and just a hint of bramble.  Lots of energy and lights on its feet.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should conitnue for seven to ten more years.  Nice on its own, this would work with lots of comfort foods; pizza, man and cheese, and burgers.  

This remains my favorite Carlisle Zinfandel year in and year out.  There are lots of reasons, but chief among them is the texture.  So rich and lush yet the wine has so much balance and energy.   A blend of 96% Zinfandel and 4% Carignan.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with raspberries, black raspberries, slight blueberries, smoke and slight bramble.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, raspberries and slight black cherries with smoke and some dry earthiness.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should drink well over the next ten to

This is such an excellent Zinfandel, it would be really great to let some age.  But, given the price and how good it drinks so young, these seem to be go to wines for mid-week drinking and a case doesn't even make it to the next release.  Oh well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with raspberries, slight black cherries, char and slight bramble.  Medium bodied.  Really nice texture with lots of energy.  On the palate, raspberries and black cherries with underlying charred earth.  Nice acidity.  Good finish.  Just guessing, but it seems like these will l

From Mike Officer's home vineyard, the Carlisle Zin is great in every vintage but in 2018 they continued to exceed expectations.  A blend of mostly Zinfandel (86%) and 14% mixed "black" grapes including Alicante Bouschet and Cinsault from 91-year-old vines. Inky purple swirls with deep ruby hues make for a very attractive appearance.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is concentrated with raspberries, black cherries, slight pine and spice.  A seamless texture that makes this so accessible even while being so young.  On the palate, black raspberries, slight blueberries, black cherries with underl

This is the 54th consecutive vintage of this wine.  It is a blend of 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet.  Another job well done!  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with raspberries, black raspberries, slight char, plum and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Great texture.  On the palate, plums and black raspberries with some raspberries with underlying char and graphite.  Great liveliness.  Nice finish.  This wine is already drinking well and while it may change a bit, it should continue to do so for another 20 years.  This is pretty food

This is a nice Zin that takes its foot off the gas just a bit in this vintage.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose has raspberries, slight bramble and spice.  Medium bodied.  14.8% ABV.  On the palate, raspberries with some underlying char and a bit of black pepper.  Nice finish.  This is the type of Zin that should age pretty well.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  This is probably better with food; pizza or a burger are nice choices.