2017 7 Moons Dark Side Red, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Grenache.  It is a very drinkable wine that lists 13.5% Alc.  It retails for around $10 and this is a great value.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cocoa and plums.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  A nice varietal complexity.  Tart acidity. Long finish.  This probably should be drunk in the next few years.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.  Easy drinking and fun.  

2016 Maggio Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel, USA, California, Lodi, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
84
Grade: 
B

This is a $10 bottle of Zinfandel.  It is just about exactly what one would expect (in a good way).  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cherries with some alcohol.  Slightly candied.  On the palate, cherries with some heat.  A bit dusty.  No complexity but nothing really off either.  This would make a nice choice at a large party.  

2013 Benovia Zinfandel, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight bramble, and a bit of pepper.  On the palate, this is lighter in style.  Cherry fruit.  Some warmth.  It doesn't seem like this will improve but it makes for enjoyable drinking.  Works better especially well with spicy Indian food.  Probably should be drink in the next few years.  

2015 Carlisle Zinfandel Pagani Ranch Sonoma Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Carlisle conitnues to pump out some of the best Zinfandels.  Period.  That they cost under $50 is even better.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight bramble, char and black cherries.  On the palate, the texture is wonderful; lush yet precise.  Lots of black rasberry and boysenberry fruit.  Depth.  Needs spicy or big foods.  Long finish.  Just a delicious wine.  

2013 Ravenswood Zinfandel Dickerson, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Grade: 

The perils of buying wines off store shelved that have been there a while.  This wine, recently bought, did not appear to be in perfect shape.  Still, it offered up enough pleasure that it was worth drinking.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has a slight aquarium note along with a bit of balsamic.  There is also some red fruit fighting to be heard.  The palate was pretty much the same.  There is some complexity here.  Probably a very nice wine as it fought with likely poor storage and heat.  Too bad.  

2012 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Just a beautiful wine.  Drinking youthfully but showing some development.  Open for business.  Purple in color.  The nose has leather, bramble, black raspberries.  Very deep.  With air, some graphite.  On the palate, black raspberries with an underlayer of charred earth.  A lovely texture; both velvety and intense.  great finish.  This would pair with heartier foods and certainly spicy foods.  This may not get better but has five to seven years left at peak easily and probably more as it morphs into more of a claret styled Zin.  So good right now though.  

2009 Sineann Abondante, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

When you own a wine cellar, every so often you lose a bottle only to rediscover it a few years later.  Sometimes it is over the hill by then, but you never know.  This one was one of those.  Abondante is a blend of leftovers at Sineann.  It is a great value and usually, they are consumed in a year or two.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is leather with good dark cherry fruit.  A bit of spice.  On the palate, this is tart red berries.  Cherries mostly but something a bit deeper.  Slight tannins.  Good finish.  There is some complexity there but not a ton.  Very food friendly.  T

2016 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Angela's Table, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Purple in color.  The nose has red berries, dust, warmth and some sour cherries.  On the palate, the red fruits continue.  This is ripe.  Not deep but tasty.  Easy drinking.  Went well with roasted acorn squash and butter sauce.  Good finish.  This older winery has a range of nice wines.  This one was $16 and its hard to beat that value.  Drink up in the next year or two.  

2014 B Wise Vineyards Wisdom, USA, California, Sonoma, Moon Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
84
Grade: 
B-

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with slight aquarium notes.  Also some cherries and black cherries.  On the palate, there is a lot of heat and it seems disjointed.  Tart cherries but brown sugar.  Alcohol on the finish.  Again, this appears to be a poorly stored bottled, but how to know for sure or where the issue is.  Drinkable for sure, but doesn't work with food at this point.  Hopefully, this bottle was not representative.  

2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Puccini Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This was done as a one off in order to raise money for victims of the earthquake.  This vineyard is an enclosed small vineyard at about 800 feet of elevation.  This is a wine that is still tight but with just a bit of air, it is drinking beautifully right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, spice and a bit of bramble.  On the palate, slight tannins.  Black cherry fruit.  Some depth.  Good acidity.  Very food friendly for medium or heartier foods.  Nice finish.  I don't think this gets better from here but will undoubtedly change and mature.  

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