Zinfandel

Tasted with a bunch of Lodi Zins.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, and some herbal notes.  A little coffee with air.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit.  Nice mouthfeel.  Medium tannins.  Cough syrup on the warm finish.  Overall a nice Lodi Zin that is neither a bomb nor on the elegant side.  Easy drinking.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This will work better with food, perhaps a burger or ribs off the grill.  

My first time trying this.  I suspect that many who do give it the benefit of the doubt due to the name.  Tasted blind, I was unimpressed.  It's fine enough but mothing more.  Pink/copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose has strawberries with a slight decomposing fruit note.  On the palate, this is think, light bodied with a slight strawberry notes.  Dry.  Slight tartness on the finish.  12% abv.  This probably should be consumed over the next year.  It will work better with food and would work with almost any food although the tartness might be an issue for a steak.  

This is a big-ish Zin in style especially for Sonoma.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries and slight bramble.  A bit of pepper, too.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, there is nice black raspberry fruit with some cherries.  Underlying spices.  Pepper on the finish.  It worked well with Thai food but will drink well on its own too.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

This is a Zinfandel made from younger vines that have been replanted in 24 different vineyards.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherry fruit and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherry fruit and spices come thru.  There is some heat on the mid-palate.  Very tasty.  Drink over the next five years.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with barbecue or foods off the grill.  

This is always a go to value wine.  Amazing?  No.  But solid, dependable and tasty.  Purple/Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, some black cherries, slight cedar and vanilla.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherries with a peppery note.  Moderate finish.  This is easy drinking with no edges.  It works nicely on its own and would work well with burgers off the grill.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

Grabbed this one by accident (thinking it was the Sonoma County Zin).  Oh well.  A bit different and very good.  No harm done. A bit more spread out and wider, if that makes sense, than their Sonoma Zins.   Deep garnet/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is upfront with black cherries, raspberries, bramble and baking spices.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherries and raspberries.  Some underlying char.  Lively.  Good finish.  This should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  A nice match for pizza or a burger. 

Always a consistently top Zinfandel.  Purple in color with a thin ruby rim.  The nose is nice with black cherries, raspberries, slight bramble, and char.  Full bodied.  The fruit seems a bit darker on the palate.  Black raspberries with some plums.  Delicious.  Tight but unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  This seems like it still needs a bit more time, even for those who like their Zins big and fruit forward.  Maybe another three to five years and it should drink well for seven to ten after that.  This drinks great on its own and will work great with bigger foods and also comfort foods li

I had high hopes for this wine, but it really didn't come together well.  Consumed over three nights, the first night was the best showing.  given the showing, it is possible this bottle had seen heat damage at some point although there were no obvious signs.  Garnet/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has candied cherries (think cough drops) with some plums.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the candied cherries carry thru along with a slight port-like note of alcohol.  Prune with heat on the finish.  I like these wine as a general rule and perhaps with some cellaring, this

Crljenak Kaštelanski is the same grape known as Zinfandel, Primitivo, and Tribidrag.  This has been confirmed by DNA testing.  The grape originated in Croatia and spread around the world.  That said, while there are some similarities, there are differences.  And, to be fair, even in California, there are many different styles of Zinfandel.  This is purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with a lot of earthiness.  Also cherries, tart blackberries and some black pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has some acidity.  It is not robust but there is plenty of cherry