Zinfanatic

Rosenblum St. Peter’s Church Vineyard Zinfandel Sonoma County

Rank:  1^st Place

Rating:  91

Approximate Price:  $45

Cutting:  Chocolate, blackberry, blueberry and pepper characteristics are featured in our winning Sonoma County Zinfandel.

Our first place Sonoma County Zinfandel has a wonderful nose with strong chocolate, blueberry, blackberry and pepper aromas.  On the palate there are chocolate, cocoa, blueberry, pepper and spice flavors along with a great long finish.  This is an excellent medium bodied wine that most Zinfanatics should appreciate.

Rosenblum

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St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma County

Rank:  2nd  Place

Rating:  90

Approximate Price:  $22

Cutting:  An excellent medium bodied Zinfandel with black cherry, pepper and raspberry characteristics.

Briary black cherry, pepper and raspberry aromas and flavors highlight the St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel from Sonoma County.  Some tasters observed coffee and cola characteristics.  This is an excellent Zinfandel with good complexity that most Zinfanatics should enjoy.  A good value.

St. Francis

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Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County

Rank:  3rd Place

Rating:  88

Approximate Price:  $24

Cutting:  A very good wine with dusty plum, black cherry and herbal characteristics.

The Seghesio Zinfandel from Sonoma County features dusty plum, black cherry and herbal aromas.  Those same characteristics are found on the palate and joined by pepper and licorice flavors.  Some tasters observed coffee, oak and vanilla characteristics.  This is a very good medium bodied wine that most Zinfanatics should enjoy.

Seghesio

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Valley of the Moon Zinfandel Sonoma County

Rank:  4^th Place (tie)

Rating:  88

Approximate Price:  $16

Cutting:  A very good medium bodied wine with cherry, spice, plum and pepper characteristics.

The Valley of the Moon Zinfandel from Sonoma County is a very good wine with cherry, spice, plum and vanilla or mocha aromas.  The same notes are found on the palate and joined by pepper characteristics on this medium bodied wine.  A very good wine at a good price that most Zinfanatics should like.

Valley of the Moon

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Rodney Strong Knotty Pines Zinfandel Sonoma County

Rank:  4^th Place (tie)

Rating:  87

Approximate Price:  $19

Cutting:  A medium bodied Zinfandel with currant, raisin, blackberry, black cherry and pepper characteristics.

The Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel from Northern Sonoma displays currant, raisin, blackberry, black cherry and pepper aromas.  These characteristics show through on the palate where they are joined by spice and tobacco on the medium length finish.  Some tasters observed herbal flavors as well.  This is a good medium bodied Zinfandel that most Zinfanatics should enjoy.

Rodney Strong

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Sonoma County Zinfandel November 2012 Tasting Preview

Sonoma County typically represents a benchmark for quality Zinfandel.  The five wines in our upcoming tasting include a mix of reliable stalwarts and lesser known surprises.  Check back to see the results.

Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel Northern Sonoma (2008)

Rosenblum St. Peter’s Church Vineyard Zinfandel Sonoma County (2007)

St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma County (2008)

Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County (2009)

Valley of the Moon Zinfandel Sonoma County (2008)

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Michael & David Seven Deadly Zins Zinfandel Lodi

Rank:  1^st Place

Rating:  89

Approximate Price:  $16

Cutting:  Our first place wine in the Lodi tasting features complex raspberry, black cherry and herbal characteristics but a somewhat short finish.

The Michael & David Seven Deadly Zins is our top ranked Zinfandel in our Lodi tasting.  It exhibits complex raspberry, black cherry and herbal aromas and flavors.  It picks up some vanilla notes on the too short finish.  Some tasters observed licorice, blackberry, blueberry or black currant characteristics.  This medium bodied wine represents a very good value that most Zinfanatics should enjoy.

Michael & David

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Turley Dogtown Vineyard Zinfandel Lodi

Rank:  2nd  Place

Rating:  88

Approximate Price:  $40

Cutting:  A very good wine with cherry, plum, cinnamon and other baking spice aromas and flavors.

The Turley Dogtown Vineyard Zinfandel from Lodi is a very good wine with cherry, plum, cinnamon and other aromas.  The flavor profile includes tart cherry, plum, licorice, baking spices and some cola on the medium length finish.  This is a light to medium bodied wine that most Zinfanatics should enjoy.

Turley

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Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

Rank:  3rd Place

Rating:  86

Approximate Price:  $18

Cutting:  Nice cherry, spice and strawberry characteristics are featured in this light to medium bodied wine.

The Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi exhibits nice cherry, spice and strawberry aromas and flavors.  This is a light to medium bodied wine with a short to medium finish.  Some tasters noted plum flavors as well.  This is a solid wine, but nothing spectacular.

Klinker Brick

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Kenwood Yulupa Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

Rank:  4^th Place

Rating:  84

Approximate Price:  $11

Cutting:  A simple wine with black cherry, red berry, pepper and tea characteristics.

Black cherry, red berry, pepper and tea aromas are featured in the Kenwood Yulupa Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi.  Those characteristics are joined by plum flavors on the palate of this medium bodied wine.  This is a fairly simple wine with a medium length finish.  Fans of simple Zinfandels may enjoy this.

Kenwood

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Peirano Estate The Immortal Zin Zinfandel Lodi

Rank:  5^th Place

Rating:  83

Approximate Price:  $12

Cutting:  A light simple wine with some sweet black cherry characteristics.

The Peirano Estate Immortal Zin Zinfandel from Lodi is a light, simple wine with sweet black cherry, strawberry jam, rhubarb and nutty aromas.  The sweet black cherry continues on the palate and is joined by pepper, spice, and cola flavors.  Some tasters noted chocolate characteristics.  This wine has a short to medium finish.  Zinfanatics who prefer lighter, simpler wines with a bit of sweetness may like this.

Peirano Estate

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October 2012 Lodi Zinfandel Tasting Preview

Lodi is located directly east of San Francisco Bay between Sacramento and Stockton and enjoys a fairly mild climate that offers hospitable conditions for growing Zinfandel grapes.  Over the next several days we will taste and evaluate these five Zinfandels from Lodi.

Kenwood Yulupa Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi (2007)

Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi (2008)

Michael & David Seven Deadly Zins Zinfandel Lodi (2008)

Peirano Estate The Immortal Zin Zinfandel Lodi (2008)

Turley Dogtown Vineyard Zinfandel Lodi (2008)

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Turley Mead Ranch Zinfandel Atlas Peak

Rank:  1^st Place

Rating:  96

Approximate Price:  $50

Cutting:  Our first place wine is a magnificent effort with complex smoky black cherry, blackberry, vanilla, spice, licorice and lather characteristics.

The Turley Mead Ranch Zinfandel from Atlas Peak is a nearly unanimous selection as our top ranked wine in the Napa Valley tasting.  It shows complex smoky black cherry, blackberry, vanilla and spice aromas.  The smoky black fruit characteristics continue on the palate where they are joined by licorice, leather and spice flavors and a finish that goes on forever.  This is a fantastic wine that everyone should enjoy.

Turley

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Ballantine Block 9 Reserve Zinfandel Napa Valley

Rank:  2nd  Place (tie)

Rating:  93

Approximate Price:  $30

Cutting:  A big complex Zinfandel featuring intense blackberry, black cherry, licorice and coffee characteristics.

The Ballantine Block 9 Reserve Zinfandel from Napa Valley features intense blackberry, black cherry, licorice and coffee aromas and flavors.  This is a complex wine that adds spice and oak characteristics on the long finish.  It won’t appeal to everyone, but Zinfanatics who prefer big wines should love this wine.

Ballantine

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Turley Dragon Vineyard Zinfandel Howell Mountain

Rank:  2nd Place (tie)

Rating:  91

Approximate Price:  $55

Cutting:  A wine featuring intense chocolate, currant, spice and blackberry characteristics.

The Turley Dragon Vineyard Zinfandel from Howell Mountain features intense chocolate, currant, spice and blackberry aromas.  On the palate these same characteristics are joined by plum and pepper.  This is a terrific medium t heavy bodied wine with a medium length finish.

Turley

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Peter Franus Brandlin Vineyard Zinfandel Napa Valley

Rank:  4^th Place

Rating:  94

Approximate Price:  $34

Cutting:  A fantastic complex wine with raspberry, vanilla, cinnamon and cherry characteristics.

The Peter Franus Brandlin Vineyard Zinfandel from Napa Valley has complex raspberry, vanilla, cinnamon and cherry aromas and flavors.  This is a beautifully crafted medium textured wine with a long finish.  This wine received the widest range of rankings among tasters ranging from second to last.  Still all our tasters enjoyed it.

Peter Franus

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Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain

Rank:  5^th Place

Rating:  90

Approximate Price:  $45

Cutting:  An excellent medium bodied wine with vanilla, raspberry, cherry and pepper characteristics.

Powerful toasty vanilla, raspberry, cherry and pepper aromas highlight the Outpost Zinfandel from Howell Mountain.  On the palate, cherry, berry and pepper flavors predominate.  Some tasters observed licorice and plum characteristics.  This is an excellent medium textured wine with a fairly long finish.

Outpost

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Napa Valley Zinfandel Tasting Preview August 2012

Napa Valley is known for elegant, but vibrant Zinfandels.  AVAs such as Howell Mountain and Atlas Peak within Napa Valley are making some especially exciting wines.  Join us during the next several days as we taste and rank these five Napa Valley Zinfandels:

Ballantine Block 9 Reserve Zinfandel Napa Valley (2007)

Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain (2007)

Peter Franus Brandlin Vineyard Zinfandel Napa Valley (2007)

Turley Home Ranch Zinfandel Atlas Peak (2008)

Turley Dragon Vineyard Zinfandel Howell Mountain (2008)

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Rosenblum Harris Kratka Zinfnadel Alexander Valley

Rank:  1^st Place (tie)

Rating:  94

Approximate Price:  $34

Cutting:  Our other first place Alexander Valley wine displays terrific cocoa or chocolate, blackberry, cherry spice and pepper characteristics.

One of our first place wines, the Rosenblum Harris Kratka Vineyard Zinfandel from Alexander Valley features terrific cocoa or chocolate, blackberry and cherry aromas.  The same characteristics come through on the palate along with spice and pepper flavors.  Some tasters noted plum, prune and sweet caramel characteristics.  This is a medium bodied wine that should appeal to most Zinfanatics.

Rosenblum

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Seghesio Home Ranch Zinfandel Alexander Valley

Rank:  1st  Place (tie)

Rating:  94

Approximate Price:  $36

Cutting:  One of our first place wines features complex black cherry, berry, cinnamon and spice characteristics.

The Seghesio Home Ranch Zinfandel from Alexander Valley, one of our first place wines, features complex black cherry, berry, cinnamon and spice aromas.  The palate features more of the same and adds distinctive licorice flavors and a fantastic long finish.  Some tasters observed mineral and green pepper characteristics.  This is a big wine that will appeal to most, but not all Zinfanatics.

Seghesio

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