Lodi

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

My first time getting the opportunity to try this winery.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  This is a blend of Zinfandel, Carignan, Flame Tokay, Black Prince and Mission grapes from vines as old as 130 years.  Very interesting.  The nose is interesting with plums, cherries and baking spices.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, slight tannins.  Black cherry fruit.  This is not a big wine but it is quite concentrated.  It did get better with air and an hour in a decanter would likely improve it.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  More in the claret style of Zin.  This would work w

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.  

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. 

This is a nice, inexpensive, middle of the road in style, Lodi zinfandel.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, raspberries, slight bramble and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit.  Easy drinking.  Drinks well on its own and will work great with a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next couple of years.