1997 Coppola Edizione Pennino – Prior to this I though $45 a bottle for wine? Fuhgeddaboutit. But…this was my Ah-Ha wine. Lush fruit. New world out the wazoo. Heavy on the umami, plums, blackberries. Oak backbone. I still remember it to this day. The sign in the tasting room signified this wine’s provenance which was named after his mother’s side. Apparently Mrs. Coppola would complain, “All I hear is Coppola this and Coppola that! Don’t forget…you’re half Pennino.”

QOTD: Renwood Zin from Cali…$8 a bottle…What a steal!

Sorry bout those Jets…big game next Monday with a strong 0-2 Chargers team looking for their first win…Favre better bring his rabbits foot.

QOTD: Gravity Hills 2004 Tumbling Tractor Zinfandel

I love the blind tasting episodes. It shows how a grape as humble as zinfandel has outpriced itself, even in its own hometown market.

QOTD: I would have to say, Ravenswood Zen of Zins. It’s a nice mellow Zinfandel with the fruit you’d expect without being over the top and too fruit-bomby for my taste. Perfect Thanksgiving wine IMHO.

Sorry about the Jets. They put up a good fight though.

Ridge Ponzo is my favorite these days, but you should try the Joseph Fillipi Winery Zin from Coucamonga — some of the oldest vines in california, pretty good and only $9.99.

Ridge Ponzo is my favorite these days, but you should try the Joseph Fillipi Winery Zin from Coucamonga — some of the oldest vines in california, pretty good and only $9.99.

Sorry about the Jets this weekend Gary. There were a lot of fun games to watch this weekend, but I didn’t want to see the Jets go down.

I’m very fond of zins, have been for years. For years, I have thought the best bang for your buck in an every-day zin is definitely the Bogle old vine zin. It retails usually around $12 here in northern CA. Seven Deadly Zins isn’t bad, but it seems to demand a slightly higher price than it needs to, unless on sale. If you want the hands down best zin around, it’s going to be something made from Howell Mountain grapes in the Napa region. Howell Mountain consists of, I think, a scant few hundred acres of the best zin growing conditions around. V. Sattui has produced stunning zins from these grapes, as has the Howell Mountain Winery itself. Those of us out here recall the ’96 V. Sattui with special fondness. I keep an empty bottle on my rack as a reminder. Offerings from these two wineries usually run 25 to 30 dollars, but V. Sattui does not sell in stores. Go there or have it shipped. Their philosophy seems to be that they don’t want their wines ruined by shipping conditions that are out of their control. If you are in the area, their winery is about the best place around for a picnic.

QOTD: Rosenblum Zinfandels are great, although they are creeping up in price too lately. Very good value for money at the low end of their spectrum….

“FEAR THE CLIFF”
That should be a t-shirt, 300 style, i think that would be awesome.
First time poster, I’ve only been lurking for a couple months. The show is awesome.

QOTD: I love huge pepper and huge fruit in my zins. I don’t have a favorite, but i fell in love with them on my trip to Napa and the first one i tasted was the Truchard (awesome people).

BTW: i believe i had a 2006 Cline ancient vine Zin and i thought it was really weak. It tasted like a really bad Merlot.

P.S. Gary if you do make that T-Shirt i think i should get one for free, cause it was my idea.

Ohh btw i am sorry about the jets loss. I’m a born Packer fan and i love number 4. I hope he does good in the future, but i was facing him in my fantasy league. Here’s to a Jets – Packers Superbowl

GO PACK!!!

It appears that I can’t afford California Zins at all so I don’t have a favorite. I think the point of this show is to look to Italian Primitivo wines for good quaility/price ratios.

QOTD: The 2003 Ridge Lytton Springs Zin was my favorite till now, but I’ve not very much experience in quality Cali Zins.

QOTD= Orin Swift Prisoner. Yeah I know it’s not “quite” Zin, but whatever it rocks

Like Jesse the Body, you gotta call it like it is. too bad.
i don’t really have that much access to Zins in switzerland, even though Ca zins can find their way here at the super market, i never get them. when i go to the states, i always try to pick some up. the most disappointing was a Ridge 04 zin. not their generic or 3 valleys, but up a notch or two. it ruined the CDP we drank after. we could not even finish it. syrup, OAK OAK OAK jam….. yuk. it put a stan still on my zin consumption for a year or two.

QOTD: Rusden zinfandel was busted out with my friends in a blind tasting and just stood out among the others we had.

QOTD: Far and away, the best Zinfandel I have had is a 2003 Ehlers Estate Korte Ranch Zinfandel. This is THE wine that made me a fan of the grape. The depressing part about it, is they no longer make a Zinfandel anymore… Rudy… please bring back the Korte Ranch. I’m begging you!

QOTD – Gamba. amazing zins.

I love the blind tastings….its just so true!! I never knew what an Arnold Palmer was! Thats kewl.

Sorry that your team lost 🙁

QOTD: I love the Rosemblum Cuvee III Zin but I also love Crianzas!!

Great episode … I truly enjoyed it as I enjoy zins and also the blind format tasting. Adding/guessing the price points was also great. I’m very glad zin was chosen!

Gary – Surprised by the price points. Walk through an Ohio wine store and take a look … you’ll be shocked. I’d say it is a good $6 to $10 more per bottle than Wine Library pricing.

QTD – Carlisle zins – Specifically, Carlisle Vineyard or Tom Feeney (now Montafi) Vineyard or even their Dry Creek designation.

Love the blind tastings!!! Favorite Zin Pedroncelli Mother Clone…

Great show, keep up the good work, always enjoy watching!

QOTD – Probably Seghesio Old Vine Zin from 05, priced kinda high now though, for a less expensive, but still excellent zin, I’d get the Cline Ancient Vines zin. You can usually get it at cost plus world market for 12-15 bucks. Well worth the price.

Thanks again!

Great show, Gary. Seghesio is a favorite with Sebastiani right behind. Blind tastings are the coolest!

My favorite was one that was on the show a long time ago – Gravity Hills Tumbling Tractor, which I can’t find anymore. Cline makes pretty good cheap zins, I think. Consistent and tasty.

Widely distributed it would be Elyse. But my fav is Bella (Dry Creek) Lilly Hill.