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EP 539 A Blind Tasting of California Zinfandel

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

Wines tasted in this episode:

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

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John__J

qotd: never really got any real high end zin’s, I remember liking the dickinson vineyard from ravenswood, gino’s vineyard from sbragia, and one of the higher end renwood’s can’t remember which

not to defend any of those wines at all but 2005 was certainly not a good year for California zin.
I can’t imagine wanting to drink a zin with thanksgiving

Tags: red, review, Video, wine, wines, zinfandel

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  • Nice double-blind Episode, Gary. Was a little scared by the pricerange of those bottles. bigballer-city usa.
    QOTD: i don’t have that much Zinfandel the last time, but liked the fruitbomby “Cardinal Zin” 04 from Bonny Doon quit a bit.
    Anyway, i think there are a lot of value-driven primitivo from south-italy, that can kick some Napa-Zins in the butt.

    Greetz from Germnay
    Micha

  • Nice double-blind Episode, Gary. Was a little scared by the pricerange of those bottles. bigballer-city usa.
    QOTD: i don’t have that much Zinfandel the last time, but liked the fruitbomby “Cardinal Zin” 04 from Bonny Doon quit a bit.
    Anyway, i think there are a lot of value-driven primitivo from south-italy, that can kick some Napa-Zins in the butt.

    Greetz from Germnay
    Micha

  • Mike S.

    QOTD. Day in, day out, just can’t beat Seghesio.

  • Mike S.

    QOTD. Day in, day out, just can’t beat Seghesio.

  • Ted P.

    Love the Rued Zins from Dry Creek. I had a really great bottle with a rabbit dinner in Healdsburg this year.

  • Ted P.

    Love the Rued Zins from Dry Creek. I had a really great bottle with a rabbit dinner in Healdsburg this year.

  • ron

    Zin from an small vineyard in Napa called Dickerson. I heard the grower and his wife tragically perished on holiday in Thailand during the Christmas Day tsunami a few years ago. This must explain the berry ghostly experience. I’m yet to find it on a shelf in Jersey.

  • ron

    Zin from an small vineyard in Napa called Dickerson. I heard the grower and his wife tragically perished on holiday in Thailand during the Christmas Day tsunami a few years ago. This must explain the berry ghostly experience. I’m yet to find it on a shelf in Jersey.

  • onekailuaboy

    QOTD: Older Hayne Vineyards from Turley (7+ yrs). Just not touching them for that long can be a problem. 2000 was a favorite!

  • onekailuaboy

    QOTD: Older Hayne Vineyards from Turley (7+ yrs). Just not touching them for that long can be a problem. 2000 was a favorite!

  • Derek F.

    Very cool and interesting show Gary.

  • Derek F.

    Very cool and interesting show Gary.

  • ScottEJ

    Big zin head here. Rosenblum, Ridge, Bella….and even V Sattui Lodi was a winner. Just a nice wine. Too bad the prices are creeping up.

  • ScottEJ

    Big zin head here. Rosenblum, Ridge, Bella….and even V Sattui Lodi was a winner. Just a nice wine. Too bad the prices are creeping up.

  • Matt

    QOTD: Hartford, Fanochi-Wood Road Vineyard, Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, 2005.

  • Matt

    QOTD: Hartford, Fanochi-Wood Road Vineyard, Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, 2005.

  • Molly Evans

    Kosta Browne and Mike Talty’s zinfandels do it for me. A glass of either of those and a little dark chocolate piece = decadence.

  • Molly Evans

    Kosta Browne and Mike Talty’s zinfandels do it for me. A glass of either of those and a little dark chocolate piece = decadence.

  • Don’t know if I can pin down a favorite…
    consistent quality: Truchard, Seghesio, Ridge

  • Don’t know if I can pin down a favorite…
    consistent quality: Truchard, Seghesio, Ridge

  • canadapete

    QOTD – none now – I’ve given up on them – just too much money for what you get. Though I do enjoy them, I cannot get past spending double what most other varietals in similar quality range cost.

  • canadapete

    QOTD – none now – I’ve given up on them – just too much money for what you get. Though I do enjoy them, I cannot get past spending double what most other varietals in similar quality range cost.

  • joe

    Depends on my mood. For a hedonistic fruit bomb it would be a Martinelli. Always gets the wow reaction from those uninitiated. For a family dinner with rustic Italian food , a Battaglini. For something a bit more refined, a Rafanelli. Oh yeah, a Peachy Canyon Dusi Ranch also excites.

  • joe

    Depends on my mood. For a hedonistic fruit bomb it would be a Martinelli. Always gets the wow reaction from those uninitiated. For a family dinner with rustic Italian food , a Battaglini. For something a bit more refined, a Rafanelli. Oh yeah, a Peachy Canyon Dusi Ranch also excites.

  • “THERE’S NO EURO IN CALIFORNIA, FOLKS!!!” – BEST LINE EVER!

    QOTD: Ridge Lytton Springs 2005 – fantastic and great qpr.

  • “THERE’S NO EURO IN CALIFORNIA, FOLKS!!!” – BEST LINE EVER!

    QOTD: Ridge Lytton Springs 2005 – fantastic and great qpr.

  • Brian

    Love the episode, and love the blind tastings. QOTD, easy, the Titus Zinfandel, followed by Grgich Hills. Titus coming in around 21 bones and Grgich a bit pricier around 29.

  • Brian

    Love the episode, and love the blind tastings. QOTD, easy, the Titus Zinfandel, followed by Grgich Hills. Titus coming in around 21 bones and Grgich a bit pricier around 29.

  • Guest

    QOTD..Favorite Zin is Tres Sabores. I think Gary may have panned this wine a while back, but what does he know?

  • gotsha

    QOTD..Favorite Zin is Tres Sabores. I think Gary may have panned this wine a while back, but what does he know?

  • Don’t have a favorite Zin….

    Painful loss yesterday for the Jets. I’m still hurting. I feel your pain Gary.

  • Don’t have a favorite Zin….

    Painful loss yesterday for the Jets. I’m still hurting. I feel your pain Gary.

  • Darlene O.

    Love the show, Gary! Love the double-blinds! QOTD: My very FAVE zin is from a little local winery in the city where I live. 2003 or 2004 Joseph Filippi Cucamonga Valley Zinfandel…amazing!

  • Darlene O.

    Love the show, Gary! Love the double-blinds! QOTD: My very FAVE zin is from a little local winery in the city where I live. 2003 or 2004 Joseph Filippi Cucamonga Valley Zinfandel…amazing!

  • ellenkf

    QOTD: My favorite zins are Rafanelli and Turley- Old Vines, Rattlesnake Ridge and Dragon VIneyard, although I think Turley isn’t quite as exciting after some years under it’s belt – dare I say borderline flabby? That being said, a young Turley is a great way to get a party started!

  • ellenkf

    QOTD: My favorite zins are Rafanelli and Turley- Old Vines, Rattlesnake Ridge and Dragon VIneyard, although I think Turley isn’t quite as exciting after some years under it’s belt – dare I say borderline flabby? That being said, a young Turley is a great way to get a party started!

  • Exdamyankee

    Great show today, I like the 2xblind. Love to see one pitting some French Bordeauxs against some California Meritage blends.

    QOTD: Big fan of Ridge Vineyards, always had a preference for their York Creek Zin.

  • Exdamyankee

    Great show today, I like the 2xblind. Love to see one pitting some French Bordeauxs against some California Meritage blends.

    QOTD: Big fan of Ridge Vineyards, always had a preference for their York Creek Zin.

  • BF

    QOTD: I am a big zin head too. My favorite so far our of about 200 tried has been Hendry Block 28 (Napa).

  • BF

    QOTD: I am a big zin head too. My favorite so far our of about 200 tried has been Hendry Block 28 (Napa).

  • Chris Hanse

    I do agree with a poster who said best line ever for “THERE?S NO EURO IN CALIFORNIA, FOLKS!!!”
    QOTD: Too much of a noob to have a opinion that would be of any value.

  • Chris Hanse

    I do agree with a poster who said best line ever for “THERE?S NO EURO IN CALIFORNIA, FOLKS!!!”
    QOTD: Too much of a noob to have a opinion that would be of any value.

  • Dr. Horowitz

    Didn’t Mondavi start in Lodi? Lodi is not in LA County, although Lodi, Bakersfield, and Fresno peeps would probably like to think they are close to LA…

    I like Kunde’s 2004 Reserve Century Vines Zinfandel. Zins are usually too plummy for me though.

  • Dr. Horowitz

    Didn’t Mondavi start in Lodi? Lodi is not in LA County, although Lodi, Bakersfield, and Fresno peeps would probably like to think they are close to LA…

    I like Kunde’s 2004 Reserve Century Vines Zinfandel. Zins are usually too plummy for me though.

  • John Cabot

    Carlisle, Scherrer, Wilson (dry creek),Pappiatro Perry- Dry creek 05,
    Outpost- Howell Mountain 05

  • Carlisle, Scherrer, Wilson (dry creek),Pappiatro Perry- Dry creek 05,
    Outpost- Howell Mountain 05

  • John M Heavey

    Love the Ridge line-up especially the Lytton Springs. Also, love the Rafanelli; however, I haven’t had it in ages since they don’t ship to MASS.

  • John M Heavey

    Love the Ridge line-up especially the Lytton Springs. Also, love the Rafanelli; however, I haven’t had it in ages since they don’t ship to MASS.

  • Hey Gary

    Interesting show, thanks.

    QOTD: I don’t drink a lot of US Zin in Hong Kong. Nothing much really exciting at a decent price point seems to make it over here. The super markets have a couple of the huge brands on offer but they haven’t impressed. So I’ll have to say favourite Zin is Cape Mentelle from Margret River, Australia.

    Cheers
    Andrew

  • Hey Gary

    Interesting show, thanks.

    QOTD: I don’t drink a lot of US Zin in Hong Kong. Nothing much really exciting at a decent price point seems to make it over here. The super markets have a couple of the huge brands on offer but they haven’t impressed. So I’ll have to say favourite Zin is Cape Mentelle from Margret River, Australia.

    Cheers
    Andrew

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