A Blind Tasting of California Zinfandel

A Blind Tasting of California Zinfandel – Episode #539

September 15, 2008

Gary V investigates the enigmatic Zinfandel grape with submissions from 4 different appellations in California

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Comments on this episode(278) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: Don’t drink many zins these days but Steele has always been a fa…” by Grant
“Too bad that so many of these blind Zin tastings end up going so horri…” by CBone
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Bourassa Zinfandel
2005 Adobe Road Zinfande
2005 Michael David Lust Zinfandel
2003 Agua Dulce Aneas Reserve Zinfandel

278 Responses

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May 21, 2009

Grant
QOTD: Don’t drink many zins these days but Steele has always been a favorite of mine. $40-$50 zins!? Doesn’t seem right. I feel like the varietal is too often over manipulated by oak.
January 30, 2009

CBone
Too bad that so many of these blind Zin tastings end up going so horribly! I love the Zins, I really do. Anything by Ridge is wonderful, as well as Ed Meades. Both make vineyard specific (is that term correct?!) wines that are unique, beautiful wines that go so well with so many foods.
January 22, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Ouch 0-4 when factoring price on the show. Sad to see some of these wineries charging so much for their wines. I wonder how much of it is newer wineries just jumping on the bandwagon of being in a certain area of the world and just charging that because they can? QOTD: Never had one, I think.
January 4, 2009

JD
I have to agree with Pauli way up above. I have no idea why so many folks would find Zins to be “too pricey”. They are about the best value wines available. The highest quality zins rarely go much above $50, and you can find really nice daily drinkers in the $10-$15 range. Prices may have crept up, but hardly at the absurd rate of other California varietals, especially cabernet. As with any other varietal, there are certainly examples of mediocre zins that are overpriced. On the whole, though, zinfandels cannot be beat for value.

My favorites:

Ridge Geyserville
Biale (Black Chicken, Aldo’s, Zappa, Monte Rosso, anything)
Bella Big River Ranch
Earthquake
Outpost Howell Mt.
Carlisle
Gamba
November 26, 2008

Drew
At first, I was a big fan of the big, fruit and alcohol bombs Zins. Lately, however, I tend to prefer Zins that are more balanced, having found many of the bigger Zins to be flabby and lacking character. Additionally, I find it easier to pair the “lighter” Zins (13%-14%) with food.

QOTD: My favorite Zin is a 2005 produced by Omega Cellars in Lodi. This wine shows excellent character, plenty of fruit, and has a nice lingering finish. I paid the well-worth-it price of $13 at the winery. Another Lodi Zin that I enjoy is a 2003 made by Akin Estates Cellars. It also displays a lot of character, and it is made in the fruit-forward style. I’ve found this wine priced anywhere from $15-$18 in various supermarkets and wineshops.
November 22, 2008

T. Bone
Love Zin, but don’t drink enough of it. Seems like one of the very few grapes that, despite little/lots of manipulation, shows the climate and soil distinctly. The same producer will show completely different wines from different areas. A lot of fun. Plus they work as cocktail or food wines and they can take a few years of age and lose some of the baby fat.

Always been a fan of Ridge and what they do, but for big names, Rosenblum today does really solid, elegant wine across all vineyards, and they are <$35. They do more oak than I typically like, but the fruit is so strong and pure that it never bothers me. Lots of great, unknown micros.
October 30, 2008

Grace
Right now, I’m enjoying some of the Rockpile Zinfandels from Mauritson Vineyards, especially the Westphall and the Cemetery. I visited them recently and they had me sample all of them. It was a tough decision. But I like my spicy, big Zins. End of story! I’ve become a slave to the Zin. At least temporarily…Until I find something else…
October 18, 2008

Sharon
Ah, I am enjoying some Primitivo now, which is technically Zinfandel. A tad simple but enjoyable. More earthy than CA Zin.
QOTD: oooh huh I have to check Cellartracker to be honest.. oh yeah I have enjoyed 4 Vines Zins a lot and would like to try Ridge Geyserville soon.
October 16, 2008

yowens
QOTD: Bella Vineyards
October 3, 2008

Bob
Favorite Zin is Sable Ridge 2001 from Santa Rosa.
October 2, 2008

Chris
I think you need to do a blind taste-off on WLTV against that fancy lad Brian Freedman from Classic Wines!!! Take him down to China-town Gary and show him what’s what!
September 30, 2008

Paul Stonier
Joel Gott 2005 Zinfandel. Only one I ever had, really enjoyed it. Really interesting veggie components on the nose. Very nice decanted.
September 29, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: 2005 Dark Horse Zinfandel (dry creek) or 2005 Brown Zinfandel (Napa)
September 27, 2008

Dan-o
Enjoyed the show – really like the blind format.
QOTD – Elyse Howell Mountain Zinfandel. Elyse is one of my favorite wineries – try the Petite Sirah at some point.
September 23, 2008

SoCal
Ridge Lytton Springs
September 23, 2008

RobT
G, great episode.

QOTD:

A. Hendry 2004 Block 28
B. Ravenswood 2000 Dickerson
C. Ridge, 2004 York Creek

D. R Kelly, 2003 Step in the name of love
E. Keith Sweat, 1996 Nobody
F. Lionel Richie, 1982 Round and round
September 22, 2008

CBone
QOTD…I love so many Zinfandels…it would have to be one of the many wonderful wines from Ridge. Also Edmeades makes some delicious vineyard specific Zinfandels that are each one unique and terrific.
September 22, 2008

D-Cos And It Don't Stop
My favorite Zin is Opolo Mountain Zinfandel from Paso Robles. Full bodied and fruity. Paso Robles wineries produce some great Zins for reasonable prices.
September 22, 2008

Graham B
I cracked a bottle of Ravenswood Zin (’05, I think), and we sipped and talked. I REALLY liked her. We’d worked together for a few months, and now my dream was coming true. We looked deep into each other’s eyes as we discussed politics and philosophy. Soon I was on top of her, lifting her sweater, exposing her belly. “I have to tell you something,” she said. “I’m a virgin.” I froze (She was 21). I liked her way too much to de-flower her after feeding her enough wine to get her tipsy. “For real?” was all I could say. No way – not tonight; that just wouldn’t be kosher. But even without sex, that was a night to remember. It would not have happened without that jammy, chocolaty, spicy bottle of Ravenswood Zin.
September 21, 2008

SteveB
Good show but you need to look at El Dorado County and other hidden away Zins like—
Mt Aukum, Latcham, Lava Cap, Oakstone, Manzanita Creek in Healdsburg, and Berryessa Gap in Winters–yup Winters. All will blow the top of your head off.
September 21, 2008

Eliot
Good episode, Gary.

QOTD – easy for once: Seghesio Family Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma. The wine that turned me from beer and scotch to wine. Overwhelmingly delicious and redonculously consistent. Great QPR. Picnics, stand-alone wine drinking, poultry, and BBQ.
September 20, 2008

Ken
favourite zin is still the St. Francis old vine Zinfandel
September 20, 2008

Logan
QOTD: Haven’t had too many Zinfandels, but I really liked Napa Cellars 2005 offering. Reasonably-priced, full of flavor, bold and dry with a long finish- everything I need in a wine!
September 20, 2008

Laura
QOTD: 7 Deadly Zins is my current favorite zin. Hubby loves Sutter Zinfandel – because he can get it so cheap. I can’t drink that, gives me big wine headache.
September 19, 2008

glenn
#1 – your NYJ lost, get used to that!

#2 – yet another Zin episode with no Sierra Foothills producers! shame. just this week friends were discussing the extravagant pricepoint of some of The Original Grandpere producers – imagine bottles in the middle $30’s that would blow away the stuff on today’s show.

had Lust recently and cracked up when they called it a $50 bottle. Young’s from Plymouth hits the same notes with more fervor ~ $30.