A California Zinfandel Wine Tasting

A California Zinfandel Wine Tasting – Episode #706

July 20, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk grabs 3 serious Zinfandels and sees what he can come up with. The Russian River and Pagani Ranch are on display.

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Comments on this episode(222) Leave a comment ›

“Love wine, aamd all info about wine. Thanks for the advice…” by Justin Wright
“Cool show, love how you keep things fun.
How about doing a show where…” by John J.
View all 222 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Porter Bass ZinfandelSonoma Red Zinfandel
2006 Neyers Zinfandel High Valley.Napa Red Zinfandel
2004 St Francis Pagani ZinfandelSonoma Red Zinfandel

Links mentioned in todays episode.

222 Responses

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October 13, 2009

Justin Wright
Love wine, aamd all info about wine. Thanks for the advice
September 8, 2009

John J.
Cool show, love how you keep things fun.
How about doing a show where you taste different tiers or vineyards of the same varietal that’s also from the same winery? Idea came to me during this show when I thought of the different zin’s Ravenswood has. Particularly how their Dickerson vineyard wine is so much better than their vintner’s blend. I would love to see a show like that after you do your charbono tasting episode.

Great episode Gary, thanks
August 16, 2009

RobRx
Mmm.. Linne Calodo Cherry Red best

Any pink zin like Sutter Home- worst

Take care of Mott. Hope he is OK
August 15, 2009

Mark
Let us see what Mot looks like.
August 15, 2009

Sonia
My favorite Zin was from Claudia Springs. I don’t remember the vineyard or the vintage but it was absolutely amazing. I only bought one bottle and they didn’t have any more when I went back. Learned my lesson.
August 6, 2009

Adam Bock
Gary!!
Hey there buddy… Been “lurking” for a few years. Don’t know if you’re going to read this since it’s a little old, but I just was catching up on your show and my all time favorite Zin is a 2001 Rosenblum Carina Cellars (I think). We sold it at $45 or so. It was such an overwhelmingly pleasurable experience every time we opened a bottle. I’ve never had it’s equal sadly. Of course one’s memory is fallibled.

Keep rockin it G.V.
Adam
August 1, 2009

Dan-o
GV – I was on a Zin kick a few years back along with Shiraz. I think my “pal” asked for a break and therefore I steer clear of them right now.

Best Zin – Either Biale Black Chicken, or Elyse Howell Mountain
Worst Zin – tough question, I don’t tend to buy cheap zins, but I guess I would say 7 Deadly Zins.
August 1, 2009

SiggiWine
and ohh yea, people PLEASE QUIT BUYING LABELS… ok they have good drawings or a hip and cool colors… it’s like dating the most beautiful guy/girl with no brains at all and you will be like help get me out of here now please…
August 1, 2009

SiggiWine
QOTD: OK lets see, the worst is Green Peak Zin. lets say candy which will last you a life time……….. The best was a small Napa producer called Raynold’s Family Wines(I hope that I spelled it correctly cause I had it in 2005 which is before I wrote down what I taste) which is just next to Napa town when you are going the Siver trail to the north.
July 31, 2009

Bob in Nashville
Favorite Zin: Ridge Geyserville, almost any year.

Least Favorite Zin: Ravenswood Vintners Blend. Joel Peterson makes some incredible zins, his run-of-the mill Vintners Blend, however, isn’t one of them. Almost every other zin he produces is.
July 31, 2009

Marianna
Nice show, Gary! Love the traditional format, it feels like home.

Favorite: SEGHESIO. Love it, and wish I could still find bottles from 2007.
Least favorite: Eh, too many to count… basically any generic zin that people bring to house parties. Can’t stand Coppola, personally, in any varietal…

Cheers!
July 29, 2009

Sonic Paul
That’s a very quick sniiffy sniff on the Porter-Bass there Gary….
July 28, 2009

Jay
QOTD: Favorite Zin – lately Zynthesis, Lodi, Old Vine, 2007 is outstanding. I also enjoy the Cujo Zin for Paso Robles.

I don’t remember the name of the really bad Zin I had but it was one of the worst things ever.
July 28, 2009

AMM3RD
Best Zin. I’ve ever had is 2006 Hartford Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard! Hartford makes great wine, and this is a special vineyard…AMM
July 28, 2009

KevO
QOTD:
Biale Black Chicken, won the 2007 OZ (Oh Zinfandel) tasting in Orlando with it…wicked good.
July 27, 2009

Joe Trdinich
You need to try the Zins from the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. Favorites include Wilson, Talty, Zichichi, and Seghesio.

i like the varietal so a “least fave” is tough. Just had a 2007 Cline California that was not very good, but it is their least expensive and others I have had from Cline are quite food.
July 27, 2009

CBone
Wow…it’s been a while. I have been off the radar for 4 months, but I am back! I missed this show.

QOTD: I love the Ridge Vineyards wines, nearly all of them, but had a Ponzo Vineyards…I think 2006 but perhaps not, and it was delicious. I’ve had some good Seghesios, too.
July 27, 2009

VINEgeek
Always excited to see Zin as the topic.

QOTD: We’re talking favorites not necessarily “the best”, so the first Zin I fell in love with was a Bannister from the Rochioli Vineyard (Russian River Valley), mid-90s vintage. Also a long-time fan of Cline single-vineyard Zins (Big Break, Live Oak and Bridgehead), though not every bottle every vintage. Least favorite? I don’t know… I remember not liking Montevina Zins from 8-10 years ago and Barefoot.
July 26, 2009

CB in Colo
I tried a new CA zin yesterday… Orin Swift’s newest creation called Saldo. It’s 85% zin and I really enjoyed it… I’d like to know what you think of it. Since 2 of the 3 on this episode you didn’t like, I think you should do another CA zin show and add Saldo to the mix.
July 26, 2009

Dave McGee
Gary, I’ve been a fan for just over a year now and you are the “the man”. Straight forward talk about wine, fair ratings and great info. Just watched the Zin show, great comments. There is a group of us in Bishop CA that think you should do a road trip here for a show. You and Mot would have a great time. Keep up the good work, I know I have expanded my knowledge of wines and sampling, thank you. GO JETS!!!

Favorite Zin – lately Zynthesis, Lodi, Old Vine, 2007

Worst – Rosenbloom, weak

BTW I also purchased a bottle of the Wayne Gretzky, No. 99 2005 Icewine Vidal
WOW it was worth eery bit of the $50 that I paid, a great treat for those that like an after dinner drink with a little choc and a great cigar.

Until the next show

Dave
July 25, 2009

Lawrence leichtman
Ridge from the late 80’s through late 90’s. Ridge is still good now as well.
July 25, 2009

Jack Turner
Good show, interesting that other folks like myself dislike guests, EXCEPT your father…I think you are off on your reference to Evander. True, he didn’t have a knockout punch, but he weighed MUCH less than his opponents he was essentially a jacked up light heavyweight. Check out the Bowe fights it looked like Evander was fighting a building, he would have needed a baseball bat to knock out bowe. So I could see the reference to the Neyers if it costs $10. I wonder if Ricky Hatton, all style with no chin or punch is a better reference for the Nyers.
July 25, 2009

marc frontario
Never have had the pleasure to try Carlisle, for now 07′ seghesio sonoma, best bang for the buck.

Also 04′ Australia’s Kangrilla Zin is f’ing delish. $20 nice qpr
July 25, 2009

marc frontario
$15 06′Klinker brink: huge lodi zin, toasted with milky chocolate raisinette’s.
Alot of wine for the price.
July 25, 2009

Clemclone
Fave Zin: Ancient Peaks from Paso Robles. I’m not a big zin fan but this one is nice. Also Ridge is always good.