Better luck at your next Zin tasting.
QOTD: Best was 2004 Haywood Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Los Chamizal Vineyard .
Worst was 2002 Lodi Zinfandel Old Vine

Good episode, very interesting.

QOTD – Tried a Peachy Canyon Incredible Red 2003 a couple of weeks ago that I really enjoyed.

The only other Zin has been 7 Deadly Zins which wasn’t bad but wasn’t outstanding either.

Hi Gary! I noticed you are doing a lot of blind Zin tastings this year! I’m glad. I am a Zin lover. I’d be curious to see what kind of rating you would give to WS #10 Wine of 2008, 2007 Seghesio Sonoma County Zin. You kind of dogged the 2006, but then again I’m not criticizing your palate either. Would you rate that one soon? My website, above, will be going live next year. You’ve been such an inspiration and hopefully you’ll always remember me as the “butter girl”–the girl from Des Moines who loves her buttery Chardonnays. Thanks for all your inspiration. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Love, love zin. As long as it’s not pink.
QOTD – Ridge Lytton Springs, Rosenblum Rockile, Mazzocco Dry Creek, Homefire Dry Creek!!

QOTD – hardly had any Zinfandels.. seems to be a very limited market in the UK. I quite liked the Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel 2005, but I tried the 2006 and was very disappointed.

Thanks for the blinds! I’ve been away for a while (was becoming a little too wine obsessed) but am back with the burning desire for good juice! I echo randy’s comment on the Earthquake.

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.

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.

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

Sucked:
Rosenblum Vintners Cuvee XXX

QOTD: I not really a Zin drinker.

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.

QOTD: “Gary Vaynerchuk is sky high after a huge Jets wine”

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.

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 ?

We recommend any zins by stryker (dry creek, alexander, or russian river valleys) or mauritson (dry creek).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

QOTD: Bella Zins are always really good

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.

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.