Zinfandel Blend

This is a blend of grapes from Napa (Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Malbec and Petite Sirah) combined with Syrah from Sonoma.  It is a pretty big and jammy style of red wine.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, graphite, baking spices and a bit of chocolate.  Rich texture.  A nice varietal complexity.  Light tannins.  This is ready to drink now.  Lots of purple and dark red fruits.  Tasty.  Probably better served as a glass on the deck but it will work with bolder foods.  Probably best if drunk in the next year or two as the exuberance and energy are what this wine is all about

Sometimes its good to have an inexpensive red wine on hand.  This is ok.  Certainly not for everyone though.  It is a blend of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice.  A bit meaty with black raspberries and some baking spices.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Made for immediate drinking.  Black raspberry fruit.  Probably better on its own than with food.  For $15, it is fine.  

My favorite Carlisle wine, and that is really saying something.  There is something about this vineyard that just does it.  It has a lot to do with texture although the other aspects are great too.  And every vintage, Mike Officer seems to do better and better though 2016 might be hard to beat.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, tobacco and spice.  On the palate, this is lush and enveloping while being precise and concentrated.  Notes of black raspberries and blueberries over a dry tobacco and earth along with a nice peppery quality.  Great balance and a long

This has 80% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, and 4% Carignane.  It is drinking just wonderfully right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, dust, leather, slight earthiness and cherries.  On the palate, this is fresh with vibrant fruit and light tannins.  Black raspberries, slight peppery notes and a nice warm earthiness to it.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Just a lovely wine.  It won't get better but should continue to mature and evolve over the next decade.  Will work with almost any food at this point.  

This is made by a winery in Ohio from California grapes.  It is a Zinfandel blend made in a lighter and easier style.  Light ruby in color.  The nose has candies cherries.  On the palate, this is sweet and almost cloying.  It reminds one of home made wines made in Italian communities often self referred to as "Dago Red".  Not a style that I prefer but those who like a sweet red will probably enjoy this more.  Food such as pizza or cheese would certainly help.

Who says there are no value wines from California?  This one was the winner of a blind value wine tasting we held.  It retails for around $20 which is a very good value.  The label says Proprietary Red, but most likely a Zinfandel blend.  Ruby/purple with some blue tones in color.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, some black olives (Syrah?) and a bit of spice.  On the palate, this is medium ripe with a nice texture.  Light tannins.  Drinking great right now.  very tasty.  It will match with grilled foods and spicy Indian food.  

Normally, its better to let Saxum's wait ten years from vintage to really get the best but the Paderewski is a different animal.  It is 34% Mourvedre, 33% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 12% Syrah and 8% Tempranillo.  Because of that it changes as it ages with the Zin showing more in its youth and fading a bit back with time.  This bottle was beautiful.  Purple in color.  The nose is deep and intoxicating with black cherries, roasted meats, leather, black raspberries, black pepper and cherries.  On the palate, this has a lush chewy texture.  Delicious.  Lots of fruit right now with black cherr

This is in a great spot right now.  It is still youthful and rambunctious but has calmed a bit since release.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has raspberries, slight strawberries with underlying coffee grounds.  On the palate, this is juicy with a great texture.  Delicious.  Raspberries with underlying char.  Clean.  Will work with spicy or heavier foods.  This should evolve over the next decade, but this style will fade in a year or so to be a kinder gentler wine.  Its good right now.  

Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has cherry candy, some char and spice.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  The cherry candy fruit carries thru.  Not a lot of acidity but some.  Needs some bigger food to work with.  This is a Zinfandel blend that retails for around $30.  Drink up in the next couple of years as this probably won't make old bones.  

This is really in a nice place right now.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black cherries, spice and a bit of char.  On the palate, this has a really nice texture.  Despite the vintage, a lot of Sonoma Zins did just fine in 2011 and this is one.  Black cherries and black raspberries with some char.  Good finish.  Not a monster Zin but plenty of fruit too.  Works well with food.