Zinfandel

This is an inexpensive wine made from 85% Zinfandel and 15% Petite Sirah.  It is aged in one and two year old French oak barrels.  This is a nice wine to serve at parties and cook outs.  It will be popular with people who enjoy a nice glass of red.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black raspberries, raspberries, some black cherries along with a bit of cola and spice.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries and a bit of black pepper.  Easy drinking.  Nothing harsh.  Not a lot of acidity.  Ripe fruit.  This is a wine to drink now.  

Sineann gets grapes in Oregon and Washington and makes quite a few different wines.  This one is a blend of grapes that did not get bottled as a single varietal.  It is always a great wine and a better value.  This vintage it contains Merlot, Cabernet and Zinfandel.  By the way, Abondante means "generous" in Italian.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice, slight chocolate and forest floor.  On the palate, there are light tannins.  This is medium to full bodied.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with some cherry over a forest floor quality.  Good finish.  This is very fle

Always a treat to try one of the iconic California Zinfandel producers.  These are not big, brambly Zins and to really appreciate them, they do need some good cellar time.  That said, this was absolutely delicious and if you have a few, it is worth trying one young.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has raspberries, black cherries, slight black pepper and a bit of spice.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Medium to full bodied but silky.  Good acidity.  Black cherry fruit with some underlying char.  Good finish.  This should continue to improve for a few more years and be good for ano

Papera Ranch is one of my favorite vineyards for Zinfandel.  Most the vineyard is Zinfandel, there is also  some Carignane, Petite Sirah, Valdigue, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trousseau Gris, Mission, several unknowns, and Pinot Noir.  This is labelled as a Heritage wine meaning that it is a field blend from an old vineyard.  The original plantings in this vineyard go back to 1934.  The wine itself is great but it took about thirty minutes or so in a decanter to open up fully.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, a bit of char, spice and a bit of pepper.  On the palate

So, I am in Chicago on vacation and stop by a local wine store.  This is on sale and having never tried it, bought a bottle.  Good move as this is a really nice Zin.  While it seems like it will age and get more claret like, it was delicious and accessible now.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, some bramble, a bit of dark chocolate and cherries.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.

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

A great value int eh world of Zinfandel.  This is a very good wine year in and year out and 2017 is no exception.  These will probably last for a decade but they are so good young and it is easy to just keep popping the corks never seeing how well they age.  Purple in color.  The nose is peppery with black cherries and some raspberries.  Also some char.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Thick but juicy.  Lots of black cherry fruit and spice.  Nice finish.  Not a monster by any means but great fruit.  Will work with all but the lightest of foods.  

This is from the Cortina vineyard which is older low yielding vines.  It is a bit pricier but still a nice value in the red wine world and an outstanding wine.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, baking spice and black pepper.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Rich and velvety yet the wine is concentrated.  Lots of depth and complexity as well.  Black cherries, earth, bramble and slight pepper.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  A very pretty wine that was better on Day 2.  This should easily last a decade although for th

This drinks like an old school Zinfandel.  It took some time to open and then drank quite well.  It is not a fruit bomb.  Deep ruby in color.  Really a very interesting color for a Zinfandel.  On the nose this has nice cherries with a peppery quality to it.  Very concentrated.  On the palate, this is also concentrated.  Layers of cherries, black cherries and warm earth.  Some pepper on the finish.  This is great on its own or with food as well.  Seems like it should last a decade as its "claret" qualities come out.  A pleasure to taste.  Better on day 2.  

Boy, this is in a nice place right now.  Delicious and enjoyable and seems to have put on a bit of weight and showing more complexity than it did on release.  Purple in color, clear and dark.  The nose has nice black cherry fruit with a bit of dust and a bit of bramble.  Slight tannins.  The black cherry fruit continues to the palate.  There is some depth here along with a bit of warm gravelly notes.  Long finish.  This makes easy drinking and was just as good on Day 2.  It is great on its own and will go well with BBQ and other hearty or spicy foods.  Great value!