Zinfandel Blend

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.  

Ruby in color, slightly electric.  Pretty.  On the nose, there are light strawberries.  On the palate, this is a dead ringer for cherry lifesaver candies.  Its a bit cloying in a wine, but those who buy this are probably looking for this quality.  Nothing offensive and would pair nicely with a light salad on a picnic.  This retails for around $8.  

This is still young but drinking quite well now.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, black raspberries, leather, bramble and spice.  On the palate, this is juicy with lots of fruit.  Black cherries mostly.  Some leathery tannins.  Depth.  Delicious.  Drank over a couple days, it was better on day 2.  Nice finish.  Food friendly or on its own.

A blend of Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Zinfandel, and some other stuff too.  Ruby in color, purple at the rim.  The nose is nice.  Cherries, dark cherries, spice, chocolate and pepper.  Also some leather.  On the palate, there is some varietal complexity.  Not a ton of depth but width.  Easy to drink.  Firm tannins.  Probably better drunk in the next few years to enjoy its vibrancy.  It retails for under $25 and that is a fair price.  This is one of those fruit forward, kitchen sink wines that are popular right now and this competes with them and beats most on price.  Attractive, silk screened l

This is a Zinfandel blend.  It seems to be a bit past prime at this point but still hanging in there.  Not as energetic as it was a few years prior.  No sin in that for this wine, it just means to drink the newer vintages in the first five years or so.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, some spice and a bit of alcohol.  On the palate, mostly red fruits; cherries and raspberries.  Not deep but tasty.  There is some heat on it, more warming than hot.