Episode #25 - California Zinfandel: Where is it now?

April 4, 2006

2003 R&b Cellars Zinfandel

2003 Frogs Leap Zinfandel

2004 Brown Estate Zinfandel

Watch as Gary Vaynerchuk explores the ever changing world of California Zinfandel. Zinfandel has gone through it’s ups and it’s downs and this is a nice update of where it is! Gary tastes the R&B Cellars Zinfandel 2003, Brown Estate Chiles Valley Zinfandel 2003 and the Frogs Leap Zinfandel 2003.

21 Responses

1. about 31 months ago

   ronguy

   Gary, I was surprised that you would have a wine in your stock that was not very good, as you described the Frogs Leap. Don’t you have buyers who taste the wines before you buy them? I would expect all the wines in your stock to be drinkable, just that some are better than others.

2. about 31 months ago

   garyv

   Ronguy Frogs Leap is a HUGE winery and name and many people ask for it…we have to carry what is in damand at times.

3. about 31 months ago

   Greg S

   Really enjoying your show. Just thought I would mention (and maybe others have already?) how inconsistant the lighting is between episodes (sometime almost yellow, others dark, some light). You might want to experiment with using more lighting. Also, the box of books and stuff on the side looks cheesy. Great show, keep them coming. Would love to see a broader sampling of California Zins next time.

4. about 31 months ago

   scotty

   Gary on your next california zin tasting why not include some of the wineries that have taken that wavy ride you spoke about over the last 10 years such as ravenswood and rosenblum?

5. about 31 months ago

   Sam Zen

   I like your comment Scotty.

   Gary- this is why you are a revolutionary— thank you for paning some wines carried by your store… every store in the world carries bad wines, bar none! Keep up the natural reactions. Also, If you recommend for us to look around for Zins under the $20 range, how about some recommendations.

6. about 31 months ago

   Mark P

   Greg S, good observation on the lighting. If I had to guess, the camera isn’t being properly adjusted for white balance. This is what I notice when my videos sometimes appear yellow or dim. Gary, maybe your camera guy can check that setting out. The usual practice is to use a white card or paper and manually adjust this setting on the camera. It might also help show the wine’s color more accurately. one decent reference - http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_white-balance.html. Keep up the great work Gary.

7. about 31 months ago

   Stan

   Great episode. I’m looking forward to your next Zin tasting. I hope you’ll highlight those in the $15-$20 range you mentioned. I agree with the lighting comments, but I don’t agree with the “cheesy” comment. These episodes are refreshingly straight-forward and apparently honest (you really appeared to be taken by surprise with the Frog’s Leap). I’d start to worry about your focus on keeping things honest if the production was more professional looking, and less “cheesy.”

8. about 31 months ago

   Mike Erganian

   We like “cheesy’

9. about 31 months ago

   wpacker

   Gary,

   Great episode! I appreciate your honesty. If the Frog’s Leap zin is so bad, whay is it a “Staff Selection”? Does that mean it is recommended by the “staff”?

10. about 31 months ago

    garyv

    Wpacker this is something we will be fixing on the site ASAP! We need to fix the wording we use on wines that we just put reviews on!

11. about 27 months ago

    Matthew

    Thanks for the reviews Gary. I am a HUGE fan of Zinfandel. I noticed Brown Estate years ago in an article in Wine Spectator. I thought it was intriguing because you don’t hear about that many black-owned vineyards–let alone one that is putting out 90+ rated wines. Keep it coming, your reviews are great!

12. about 26 months ago

    Brandon M

    There was a great article in Napa Sonoma Magazine a few months back about African American Winemakers / owners. Mac from Vision cellars was in the article. I got to meet him in Bodega Bay a few months back at Gourmet Au Bay. It was a lot of fun seeing someone you had just tasted with end up in an article about African American wine trail blazing!

    Vision is starting to get good scores for their Pinot Noir!

    This episode just reminded me of it!

    BTW..all the Frogs LEap I’ve had lately has SUCKED..it used to be so damn good.
    B

13. about 25 months ago

    Mike F.

    I tried a few red zinfandels a dozen years back or so, and I wasn’t that in love with them then. I tried them again a few years back after they got “big” and oh what a difference it is. Although I don’t like some of the over the top super jammy 16%+ alcohol zin’s like Rosenblum and some others, I do like where the California style zinfandels have evolved to.

14. about 17 months ago

    David Canada

    I’m a definite Red Zin novice……I keep buying them in the 20$ CAN area and get underwhelmed…. I need to look at a higher price point I think…..

15. about 16 months ago

    vibemore

    Another classic episode that made its way into “the” classic episode. “Completely undrinkable” shows up. AWESOME.

16. about 16 months ago

    yowens

    GV- still working thru the archives and enjoyed the show- hadnt heard of brown before but will seek it out.

17. about 14 months ago

    WA Ambassador

    I haven’t had a zin in years. It’s good to get reintroduced to it again. I remember when my parents used to drink it all the time.

18. about 14 months ago

    GrapeStuff

    I find Zin is an easy transition for anyone who has been drinking a lot of OZ Shiraz. Great ep.

19. about 9 months ago

    The Fanjestic

    Still not changing the wine world after 25 episodes huh? I am a fan of Frogs leap because John Williams is the wine maker (my Dad’s name)

20. about 8 months ago

    Dale Cruse

    Gary said it was 15+% alcohol, “so you’re getting a lot of wine for your buck.” No, I’d say you’re getting a lot of alcohol for your buck!

21. about 4 months ago

    Dan Leavy

    word 25 in my 500 word review, one comment at a time…

    “He”

Leave a Reply