Wine Tasting: 2014 Predator Old Vine Zinfandel

Tonight's wine was an interesting story.  I purchased this wine to "top up" my Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel wine that I'm making. (yes, I'm a home winemaker!)   Topping up is something you do to fill the wine container so their is minimal air in on the wine.  Oxygen turns wine to vinegar, I must minimize my wine's exposure.

2014 Predator Old Vine Zinfandel

Tasting Notes:
Medium bodied and crimson in color.   Very interesting cranberry, kiwi, and bubblegum on the nose.  Juicy pomegranate and black cherry with a dried fruit medley.  Bold, but not overly heavy, fruit forward with a long and nicely balanced finish.

Final Thoughts:  This wine was an eye opener.  I wasn't expecting too much, I just wanted to good enough to top up with.  Very flavorful, juicy, without being a heavy jammy wine, but still jammy like you expect from a great Zinfandel.  I like it!

Wine Tasting: 2013 Tin Barn Zinfandel - Los Chamizal Vineyards

This evening we are going with 2013 Tin Barn Zinfandel from the Los Chamizal Vineyard in Sonoma California. The winemaker is Michael Lancaster.

Tasting Notes:
Inky maroon in color, with a peppery black currant on the nose. On the palate, cranberry, red plum, and smoky leather. Smooth with a late propulsive bite from the semi-stout ABV. (15.8%)

Final Thoughts:
The wine is good, but not "great". The semi-stout ABV is unobtrusive as does not detract from this wine at all. I would say this is a drinking Zinfandel rather than a pairing one.

Wine Tasting: 2012 Decoy Zinfandel

I've recently tried Duckhorn's Goldeye and thought it was fantastic.  Today, I wanted to try another one of their products.  The Decoy line of Zinfandel.  The 2012 vintage to be exact.

Tasting Notes:
Burgundy in color with medium legs.  Jammy red fruit on the nose, On the palate I would a completely sugarless raspberry.  The point that it's is on the edge of being outright bitter.  The acidity is quite high out of the bottle, but it burns off after a bit, though not enough to vastly improve the wine.  The wine is thin lacking the body you generally expect from a big Zinfandel.

Final Thoughts:
I'm a huge fan of big fat jammy Zinfandel.  I'm not a fan of this wine as it definitely is not one of those.  This is however, my first Decoy wine. I really enjoy Duckhorn's Goldeneye wines.  I hope other wines in the Decoy line do not disappoint as this one does.

Wine Tasting: 2011 Banknote Counterfeit Zinfandel

Today's wine is comes from one of my favorite value wine producers.  Banknote's Counterfeit series wines.

Banknote is an interesting story.  They do not have their own vineyards.  They produce their wines from purchased grapes.  The proprietor is a graphic designer who re-creates old bank notes as art.  When he was trying to decide on a name for his wine, his son or daughter (can't recall who, I was told the story by the wines local distributor) said that Pete should use his art on the bottle and Banknote Counterfeit was born.

Tasting Notes:
Gorgeous ruby red in color, classic rose petals and radish on the nose.  Vivid raspberry jam and earthen spices with a tart finish.  Fifteen minutes in the decanter softens the acidity to reach a very nice balance.

Final Thoughts:
Just like Banknote's Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is an excellent value wine.  Well worth it's price point. ($18 US)

Wine Tasting: 2012 Martinelli Zinfandel Vigneto di Evo

Up to bat this evening is a big Zinfandel.  To be more specific, Martinelli's 2012 Vigneto di Evo Zinfandel.  This wine was crafted by Bryan Kvamme of Martinelli Winery in California's Russian River Valley and 876 cases were produced.

Tasting Notes:
Full bodied and crimson in color.  Scents of rose petals and red fruit.  Adventurous florals and allspice along with hints of black cherry and plum.  Definitely a muscular alcohol (17.2% ABV) though it surprisingly doesn't necessarily daunt the audacious forward flavors.

Final thoughts:
Very bold in the line of some of the great Australian Barbossa Valley Shiraz.  This is a very good wine though definitely not something you would drink everyday.  Something you pull out when guest come by who enjoy bold wines as I do.

Wine Tasting: 2012 Baron Cooper Old Vine Zinfandel, Tamura Vineyard

A product of Greg Burns of Jessie’s Grove and St. Amant.  Baron Cooper Old Vine Zinfandel from Tamura Vineyards is up for tasting tonight.

I've actually had this wine and a Luke Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon waiting for tasting for several months now.  Considering their supposed quality, I'm surprised it's taken me this long to get around to them.

Tasting Notes:
Aromas of red fruit, floral essence, with some hints of radish. On the tongue it's has a savory cranberry sauce flavor, a light impression of pepperiness along with other spices and rich velvety floral on the palate. Almost silky texture with a long finish and nice acidity for a good balance. Very nice.

Overall, an excellent Zinfandel.  I wish I had picked up more than just two bottles.

Tasting: 2011 Pech Merle, Zinfandel

2011 Pech Merle Zinfandel is from the the Dry Creek region of Sonoma County, California.  It's a blend of 96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Syrah.  There were 312 cases produced and each bottle is marked with which case it came from. This particular bottle came from case 148.

The Zinfandel is Garnet in color with crimson at the edge with slow legs.  Fragrant aromas of strawberry, blueberry, and prune are present.  It tastes of cranberry, strawberry jam, plum and hints of nutmeg.  The body is medium/full and the wine has a sort of fleshy texture.  The finish is medium plus with a medium acidity.  I decanted this wine for about an hour.

I paired this wine with a homemade chipotle with beef and smoked sausage chili.  (Super Bowl leftovers to be exact :) )

The wine is very good bordering on great after an hour decanting.  I believe it's a steal at just under $20.  The pairing was decent, but didn't coalesce as well as I had hoped.