Zinfandel tasting – Blind.

Zinfandel tasting – Blind. – Episode #583

November 24, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk is sky high after a huge Jets wine and his beard is getting thicker and thicker as he tries 6 California Zinfandels BLIND right before Thanksgiving.

Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version.

Comments on this episode(231) Leave a comment ›

“Used to go to the ZAP at Fort Mason when I lived up in the Bay Area. …” by G
“Gary,
I’m just getting into wine, for I have only been able to legall…” by Brandon
View all 231 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Sebastiani Dry Creek ZinfandelSonoma Red Zinfandel
Coppola Diamond ZinfandelOther California Red Zinfandel
2005 Thomas Henry ZinfandelSonoma Red Zinfandel
2006 Outpost Zinfandel Howell MountainNapa Red Zinfandel
2006 Rosenblum Richard Sauret ZinfandelOther California Red Zinfandel
2006 Ravenswood Napa ZinfandelNapa Red Zinfandel

Not in this episode

2006 Neyers Zinfandel High Valley.

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

231 Responses

Pages: [10] 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All

May 13, 2009

G
Used to go to the ZAP at Fort Mason when I lived up in the Bay Area. Hendry used to a nice job. Liked Seghasio across the board. Ridge was solid. Dusi Ranch is a nice fruit source. Was interesting that the Howell Mountain fruit showed big on the nose and failed in the glass, many of my favorite cabs are sourced there.

I generally prefer the paso zins for the pepper, have a number that I like down there. But was nice to see Rosenbloom take the best of the worst. Alameda suffers from being close to Oakland and well, in a way this really fits for the East Bay. And speaking of Alameda, might be a show in the Hangar One distillers…not sure that anyone else has done a “swords into spirits” transition at an abandoned military base, but they do some fun stuff.
April 7, 2009

Brandon
Gary,
I’m just getting into wine, for I have only been able to legally purchase it for about a month. I’ll preface my statement with this: I am a college student. This means a small budget which results in big-time disappointment when a wine doesn’t wow me.

I absolutely LOVE the show. Consequently, I have followed you advice trying to sample as many varieties as possible. I decided to try Zinfandel tonight – a Ravenswood Napa Zin 2006 jumped out at me on the grocery store shelf and I got it. I have had their petite syrah and liked it so I assumed their Zin would be a big play for me. Immediately I caught big-time fruit on the nose. On the mouth some of the spices and vanilla got me too. However, the fruit felt artificial in the mouth. For the first 3 seconds this wine was great for me. Then…swallow! HEAT. That alcohol carried through and killed it. What was funny was the toothpaste thing. I kept thinking menthol or paste or something…then you nailed it. Hindsight 20/20, I would have scored this an 80 for my palette. I am inexperienced with both tasting and scoring, however, I have watched your show enough to know to trust my own palette. It was just a bit discouraging to see my $13 destroyed.

Just thought a novice college students perspective would be interesting to (you?) and others. Here’s my question to you: What are the three best wines under $10 that a college student (such as myself) could get into?

Cheers,
Brandon
The College of Wooster
http://www.wooster.edu
April 3, 2009

Julie in Boston
I’m very late getting this comment to you (I just recently found Wine Library TV (shocking I know)) but to answer your question, one of the best Zins I’ve had lately was the 2005 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel. Have you ever tried this, I’d love to get your thought on this particular wine. Thanks Julie
March 6, 2009

Kevin C
QOTD:

Love Storybook Mountain Napa Valley Reserve – had every vintage since 1999
February 16, 2009

David
if you want good Zin, the only place to get it is Lodi, CA.
January 29, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Sad that it was an 0-6 night. QOTD: Dont think ive had more than one or two zins, and certianly cant remember anything about then. Def. need to try some more, and Id like to.
January 28, 2009

Justin L. Ove
I find it just as valuable to find out which wines might suck as I do which wines are great. Meaning I don’t find this show a disappointment at all. It’s good info all the same.
QOTD: 2006 Ridge Three Valleys Zin is shockingly good at 18 bones, it’s blended with petite syrah, carignane, and grenache. Awesome fruit, well balanced.
January 3, 2009

Roberto
Gary,

Love your show but your price and pallet is off. Just because Wine Library has a “sale” or a blow out sale, does not make the value of the wine. Most people will find a Napa Valley Zin for 11 bones.

Sorry I had to call it.
January 3, 2009

yowens
QOTD: Bella Zins are always really good
December 22, 2008

Veez
Worthy Zins 2005 Forchini Zin (& here comes 2006) Hard to find but worth the Journey: 2006 Harts Desire Ponzo Zin, Any Ridge Nervo, 2005-06 Hawley Ponzo Zin, 2005 Rued Zin, Wilson 2006 Sawyer & Selby Zins!!!

Like the broadcasts. Been a Jets fan since the 1970’s Namath,Caster,Bell,Maynard Atkinson,Riggins. Fingers crossed!
December 20, 2008

Vinacull
Great show Gary. This is one time where I don’t need to trust my *PAL*, because yours was already spot-on for this blind tasting. You had me laughing when you were trying to order the wines at the end. We love zins, and this show is a perfect illustration of why we’re not drinking them. I refuse to pay 25 to 30 or more to get one that has some depth and character, and a very large percentage of the 20 and under seem to be goopy/candified, boring, alcoholic. I agree on the excellent quality of both the Neyers (’06 High Valley, $29) and for Bobby’s wine (Shifrin Howell Zin, $27), both of which I enjoyed tasting in-store. Until the sexiness of the category hopefully blows over in the next few years and people move on to another varietal, I’ll be sticking with the value-driven Languedoc, Lirac, and Douro wines. QOTD: Last Zin I anty’d up for was the ‘02 Schulz Zinfandel Johanne for 20. Parker gave it a 91, and IMO it is well short of that (out-of-balance forward {which Parker tends to favor anyway}, hollow midpalate, short finish, alcohol spike, oak embers aftertaste). Passzzzz.
December 11, 2008

Brooks C
Loved the show… Bad experience with Ravenswood Zin turned me off two years ago and never been back. After the show might not go back. Thanks for your sacrifice.
December 3, 2008

Kristen
Wow, that was painful! But hey, you did a public service by saving us from some awful wines! You’re our first line of defense GV.

QOTD: Haven’t drank one in a long long time. Thanks for reminding me about zin. I am always on the hunt for other “weird” wines that I can forget to revisit other “normal” varietals.
December 3, 2008

CBone
Generally, I love Zinfandels…

QOTD: Ridge – Ponzi Vineyards, 2005 was incredible.
I had some Australian zinfandel (an odd find, but I got it in DC) and I can not recall the name, but it tasted like a low quality Syrah mixed with jam and ground up tires. Gross.
December 2, 2008

Devin M.
Some of the best Zins come from Amador county in the California foothills. The fruit from the older vines of the Deaver vineyards is especially good.
December 1, 2008

JayZee
QOTD: The best recently was probably the Seghesio Prati Zinfandel that we had on Thanksgiving. I cannot recall having a disappointment lately but we haven’t been drinking much Zin the last couple of months.
December 1, 2008

benny z
We recommend any zins by stryker (dry creek, alexander, or russian river valleys) or mauritson (dry creek).
December 1, 2008

SargieAZ
Over the holiday I had the Ridge Three Valleys 06, which is 20% other varietals but a very nice one. In the past I have been a fan of Eberle’s estate zinfandel 05, Quivira’s from Dry Creek 05, and Starry Night 05 from Russian river. It reminds me though, Gary Eberle has been making great rhone varietal wines in Paso since the beginning of time-even reputed to have planted the first syrah in california. How come Big Gary E doesn’t get any love from Gary V ?
November 29, 2008

Wine Maven
I had a 2004 Turley Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel on Thanksgiving. Out of 6 wines it was clearly the star. The big fruit was a great match with the sides and the turkey.

Big disappointment – 2000 Topolos Rossi Ranch zinfandel. Way too acidic.
November 29, 2008

JJS
QOTD: “Gary Vaynerchuk is sky high after a huge Jets wine”
November 29, 2008

A dumb Rhine king
QOTD: I’m not a big zin drinker, it’s never sat very well on my pallet. I can’t say that I’ve had the opportunity to taste a lot of them though. I did like the Robert Mondavi Private Selection. I tasted it about a year ago, so it was probably the 2005 vintage.
November 29, 2008

Wine PT
QOTD: I not really a Zin drinker.
November 29, 2008

Dave
QOTD:
Rocked:
Seghesio Old Vine
Neyers (Don’t remember which one-Patos, I believe?)

Sucked:
Rosenblum Vintners Cuvee XXX
November 27, 2008

Brian @ Calgary
With Napa Cabs going through the roof, I agree with Gary that there are some serious high value zin plays out there.

2 standouts – both in the $25-$30 range:

Ballentine Vineyards Zinfandel Block 9 Reserve (Napa Valley) – INCREDIBLE.

Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley.

Both of these are solid 90+ in my books.
November 27, 2008

Brian Barrick
Love Zin, but the price for a good one has shot up in recent years (like most California wine), and the market is flooded with crappy Zin at the $15 and under price point. Beware gimmicky names and colorful fancy labels.

I’m a big fan of Rosenblum, but you have to like the ultra-extracted style. A year or two of aging really helps them, especially the reserves. The 2003 Cullinane is drinking fabulously right now, and the 2006 looks to be another knockout in a few years, along with the Monte Rosso. Best QPR is the North Coast, Appellation Series.

For balance, longevity, consistency from year to year and universal appeal, it’s tough to beat the Ridge Geyserville.