Great show yesterday. I agree on the St. Francis label. Lots of cheesy labels out there. One of my favorite labels was on a wine I got a few years ago at Boeger in Placerville – it was a piece of masking tape with the varietal and year in marker.

QOTD: Dashe Dry Creek, Rosenblum Rockpile, and Buehler all bring it. Caymus Zin is good too, but I’ve only seen it at the winery. On the bad side, the 2003 Martinelli G&L was not a favorite. Not a “bad” Zin, but a big let-down for the price.

Coming to see the store next time I’m in Jersey!

Great show yesterday. I agree on the St. Francis label. Lots of cheesy labels out there. One of my favorite labels was on a wine I got a few years ago at Boeger in Placerville – it was a piece of masking tape with the varietal and year in marker.

QOTD: Dashe Dry Creek, Rosenblum Rockpile, and Buehler all bring it. Caymus Zin is good too, but I’ve only seen it at the winery. On the bad side, the 2003 Martinelli G&L was not a favorite. Not a “bad” Zin, but a big let-down for the price.

Coming to see the store next time I’m in Jersey!

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted. Just caught up on about the last 40 episodes. Work has been crazy lately.

QOTD: best: Cline Zin from around the 2000 vintage. great with rack of lamb for a special dinner; worst: wasn’t impressed with a recent Ravenswood.

Great show. I like the return of the Thunder Cats.

QOTD: Favorite is Turley. You can not deny the delicious factor. Least favorite is… Turley. Their heads have gotten too big.

Gary, was that the first time you missed a stiff? One time out of 706 episodes is not too bad:)

When’s the White Zin show?! I kid, I kid. But seriously, after wine geeking it out lately I think a little white zin action on a laid back Friday might be epic!

When’s the White Zin show?! I kid, I kid. But seriously, after wine geeking it out lately I think a little white zin action on a laid back Friday might be epic!

Good to be back, indeed!

Mott…good to know you’re alright, at least the swine didnt hit you!
Kidding!

QOTD: haven’t had much experience with zins to actually comment. although i had a barolo last weekend…it was smooth and balanced, but rather ‘burgundian’ light. i guess i was expecting a much bigger wine from a barolo.

Mott….I hope you are feeling better!

Great show…nice to see some Zin love. It feels like it’s been awhile. Have you thought of doing a summer wine show? Maybe a range of different varietals for a warm summers day?

QOTD:
Best all time Zin has to be the 2005 Scott Harvey reserve

Worst ever has to have been 2003 Sin Zin…ugh that was awful.

Question about the 2004 St. Francis Pagani. You said it was over-the-top oaky but the winery said it was fermented in “small stainless steel tanks”. How does a wine fermented in stainless steel tanks pick up such heavy oak notes? Or am I missing something?

Thanks, love your show Gary.

When doing a Zin show you need to include the Brown’s. For me the most consistent of them all. How’s the baby?? Give some news.

QOTD: Fav- mid 1980’s Ridge Geyservilles
least- Ravenswood ; how can these be the category leader? It does have a cool label. Hmmmmm.

Hey Gary, I love the zin, but I agree about wishing the price points on quality juice was lower.

QOTD: Favorite zin is the Ridge Geyserville (although the current vintage can’t legally be called zin). Least favorite – I don’t know, I don’t drink bad wine 🙂

QOTD: Favorite: 2004 Ehlers Estate Korte Ranch Zinfandel (madder than a wet hornet they don’t make it anymore)Least favorite: Any Vintage Bogle Zinfandel

I have had Zin on my mind lately (I need to find a good one for work), so perfect timing with this show. I’m not normally a Zin drinker, but I’ve had a few great ones the past few months. Martenelli makes some very well balanced ones in addition to the over-the-top high alc bottles. Storybook also makes some great wines of depth and complexity. I’m also very sensitive to alcohol, but find that Zin needs the additional hang time to develop fully, so 15.5 doesn’t scare me there as much as it does in Cab.

Are you going to catch up on comments from last week? The day you asked what was the most commonly grown grape, I think I won by ‘binging’ out Airen… so let me know.

No luck today. I was really excited about checking out some good Zin’s too. I like spicy anything, chocolate, coffee, and fruit is normally good when its fresh. That being said, I am really turned on my Zin, and have been drinking it in place of Cab lately. However, working with a student budget and cant afford the $20 and $30 bottles this minute.

QOTD:
Fav: Cline Ancient Vines
Disliked: Robert Parker – thought the fruit tasted old and overripe.

Nice old-school WLTV!

QOTD –

Best: Rosenblum Rockpile Road (2001, I think) was great. Tons of fruit, of course, but was delicious.

Worst: Had a Liar’s Dice (Murphy Good) that I really disliked, but I try to block that memory. Thanks for making me remember that horror.

Bummed about the St. Francis Pagani… their “Old Vines” is always good..

QOTD:

+ any Zin from Steele (their Pagani is AWESOME!), Rosenblum, Ridge, Cline

– where to start…?

Dude, you missed the sniffy-sniff on the first wine! Not sure if that’s a first, but it was awesome to catch.

Most fav zin is, The Prisoner from Orin swift. I know it’s a zin blend but too bad.

Least favorite was a suprise. It was a 2006 Geyserville York. Loved the 2005 but the 2006 was way too lean for a zin.

Nice show. Second time that you had Neyers that I can remember and I still haven’t gone out and found one. Shame on me. I immediately had to look up Ehren Jordan and read a great article on him winning winemaker of the year from the SF Chronicle.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/11/WI9B14KPR7.DTL

QOTD: Speedy Creek Zin from a place in Sonoma called Stryker. They make some great Zins!

QOTD: Fav is 2004 Ridge Carmichael. Least Fav is 2006 Rosenblum Zin.

Gary v.
Good info at the start of the show about Zin… a little nerd action. It seemed as if you just wanted to get this show in the books, a little rushed. I agree with you about the Neyers, it seems like it does lack that power punch we look for in a good Zin. Speaking of power punch, my favorite Zin to date is the Nickel&Nickel Ponzo Vineyard Russian River Valley. What a rush… big fruit but not over-the-top with some lazer edge fruit flavors in the mid-palate, this wine made me whimper. The worst zin, or most disappointing was the Gnarlier Head Zinfandel. Thanks for keeping it real.

Before there is a problem between you and I vaynerchuk, you better shout me out soon. These new jacks getting props before an old timer like myself….

Best Zin- Martinelli Jack Ass

I also have to give Coturri Zins a big shout out, they’re so exotic and fun that they are always good.

Way too many to list.

best from recent memory only. 2005 ridge geyserville zin.from older memories,ridge of many different vineyards,which seemed to age nicely.worst recent was august briggs from the below average year for california zin,2005.also, 2003 st. francis pagani reserve just tasted old and worn out.did not notice the wood component as you did in the 2004.

Ridge Geyserville convinced me that Zins can be outstanding. The 2002 was very good.