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Zinfandel Wine Tasting Notes
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2006 Sobon Estate Old Vines Amador County Zinfandel $14 Score: 88.0 Not as spicy as I'd expect from an "old vines" zin, but it was nonetheless a hit with okur tasting panel, whose members commented on its silky texture, and on its forward blackberry-plum flavors. |
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2006 Sobon Estate Rocky Top, Amador County Zinfandel $17 Score: 89.0 A bit heavier and more concentrated than Cougar Hill, Rocky Top vineyard displays the darker fruit flavors of blackberry and blueberry, coupled with dark chocolate. It's almost dessert-like in its concentration, yet it will still pair nicely with barbecue, lasagna and enchiladas. |
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2006 Sobon Estate Cougar Hill, Amador County Zinfandel $17 Score: 88.0 While it's obviously a serious wine showing concentration of raspberry fruit and supple tannins, it does come across as excessively alcoholic, despite a claim of 14.2% on the label. If you disregard its slightly unbalanced character, it does have a lot of charm, shows a touch of licorice and vanilla from the oak aging, as well as good length. So we advise you buy it, but drink it soon and pair with dinner or cheese. |
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2005 Bargetto Rosso, California, (Dolcetto, Zinfandel, Merlot, Tempranillo, Carignane, Refosco and Nebbiolo) $12 Score: 92.0 An interesting blend of Italian, French and Spanish varieties, it weighs in at 14.5% alcohol. Of all of its components, it most resembles Tempranillo -- a velvet covered whip -- silky smooth with a spicy-acidic kick on the extraordinarily long finish. The fruit tends toward raspberry and cranberry, with vanilla and light milk chocolate tones in the background. Only 490 cases produced. Amazing value |
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2005 Dry Creek Vineyard Heritage Sonoma County Zinfandel $16 Score: 86.0 What you get with this wine is good concentration of fruit (blueberry, boysenberry) and an elusive woodsy-herbal scent. On the palate it's dense and concentated, with soft tannins and a hot finish. It's impossible to dislike this wine, yet it lacks finesse. Drink now to 2011. |
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2005 Valley of the Moon Sonoma County Zinfandel $16 Score: 87.0 At 15% alcohol this is properly served with the cheese course at the end of the meal. It's a full bodied Zin with concentrated blackberry fruit flavors, instead of the usual raspberry, with a dusty oregano accent through the finish. As you'd expect, the finish is on the warm side, but the tannins are reined in so it's a very approachable wine right from the start. Serve with Gorgonzola, Castelmagna, or Manchego. |
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2005 Sobon Estate Lubenko Vineyard Fiddletown Zinfandel $20 Score: 90.0 First, I want to voice my displeasure at the 15.2% alcohol in this wine. It's such a complex, flavorful wine that I'd like to drink at least a half bottle, but that's simply impossible with such lofty alcohol. Regardless, this is a wonderful wine full of layers of jammy raspberry fruit with briary overtones, a buttery smooth texture and a spicy finish. It's so well balanced that the alcohol is totally unobtrusive, which will make you think you can drink more than you really should. Enjoy with moderation. A perfect match for barbecue or tomato sauced pasta. This was a big hit with our consumer tasting panel. |
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2004 Bargetto Lodi Zinfandel $14 Score: 92.0 Extraordinarily elegant for a wine this big: it's silky and full of bramble berry and baked cherry fruit, with subtle soil/mineral notes and a long, subtly complex finish. The vines for this effort come from a 97-year-old vineyard. Only 1103 cases produced. |
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