Zinfandel

Nice to try this with a bit more age on it.  Purple in color with some dark brown mix, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens to show some black raspberries, dust and just a touch of cider.  On the palate, this has prunes along with a bit of green tomatoes although it is much better than that sounds.  It probably should be drunk up.  This works on its own and would work with a meat based stew.  

I liked this (more than the people I was tasting with).  It is more claret styled than fruit filled.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has light cherry notes with a touch of smoke.  On the palate, a nice texture.  Tart and fresh cherries, slight pie filling.  Slight tannins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This wine will do better with food.  Chili would work well.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is one of the consistently better Zinfandels from Lodi.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries and coffee along with a bit of an herbal streak.  Full bodied.  On the palate this has light tannins.  Nice black cherry fruit.  Maybe a bit of dates.  A bit of late heat on the finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with a steak or a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with sour cherries.  On the palate, this has a nice texture, but the palate lacks.  There is a bit of a tomato paste note along with some cough syrup.  It seems a bit thinner on fruit though there is some cherry quality.  A bit of menthol/alcohol on the finish.  Others I drank this with liked it more than I.  Drink in the next few years. It might work better with some spicy chicken wings.  

At the time, this was made by Michael David winery.  They have since sold off this line.  It continues to be an excellent source of good value Zinfandel.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has nice cherry fruit but with a touch of a chemical/glue nose.  On the palate, it is much nicer with cherries and chocolate.  It could use a touch more acidity but it drinks easily.  Nice on its own, this makes a nice wine for a large party.  Drink over the next few years.  

This was mildly corked but also seemed very long in the tooth.  Drink up if you have any.  

This is the top end of the Michael David lineup of Zinfandels.  15.5% abv.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, plums and black pepper. Medium bodied with medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries becoming more cough syrup on the finish.  Overall a solid Zinfandel but there doesn't seem to be an upgrade over some of this wineries less expensive wines.  This should be consumed in the next five to eight years.  It will work well on its own and work great with a burger (or veggie burger) off the grill.  

Not sure if this was an off bottle or in a bad place right now, but this was the groups and mine last place bottle in a recent tasting of Lodi Zins.  Very disappointing.  I do have another bottle and will revisit at some point to update this note.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherry cough syrup with mint and a green tomato streak.  On the palate, the texture is nice with medium tannins but the fruit is light and the green tomato streak dominates.  Some black cherry fruit comes out at the end along with a lot of heat and cough syrup.  Not sure what is going on here.  Drinkable I suppos

Deep garnet in color. The nose takes twenty minutes to open and then shows black cherries, raspberries and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice black cherry fruit on the palate.  Some vanilla.  The finish builds but it does have some heat.  Leaning toward the bigger side of Lodi Zin but not all the way there.  Very pleasant.  This should be consumed in the next five years.  A nice wine with a burger or comfort food like mac and cheese.  

In a recent tasting of Lodi Zin, i was glad to see this was in the mix.  It seems every time I try this in a blind tasting it finishes at or near the top and this was no exception.  Mine and the groups number one wine.  It has great value and really is a top notch wine in the big, brawny filled with fruit category of Zins.  Inky purple in color.  The nose was a bit funky/dusty at first but with air opened to show black raspberries, plums, coffee and cedar.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  No noticeable tannins.  A lovely full bodied texture with juicy black raspberry fruit.  Also some