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Tasting Notes I I

On 4/26/98 Anthony Dias Blue and I sat down to a larger collection of Zins than the previous month. Unfortunately, it was also less distinguished. I found it overall disappointing and feel sorry for people who must wade through all these Zins to find the really exciting wines. It's an expensive exercise. When I can get a good 1995 Bordeaux for less that $20 I have to wonder what's going on with $20+ Zins that offer little more than a blast of high alcohol. Here are the notes and points for this massive tasting of 41 Zins.

Windsor Vineyards 1995 Zinfandel Carol Shelton Signature Series Alexander Valley $14.5 -- 13.5-percent alcohol -- this wine is a typical Windsor wine. Fair at best. 82 pts.

Davis Bynum Winery 1995 Zinfandel Old Vines Sonoma $16 -- 13.8-percent alcohol -- perfect example of a fruity zin. Great summer afternoon wine. 89 pts.

Kunde Estate Winery Kunde 1996 Zinfandel Estate Sonoma Valley $15 13.8-percent alcohol -- maybe flawed (bad bottle?).. 85

Sebastiani Vineyards 1995 Zinfandel Old vines Domenici Sonoma Valley $17 14.2-percent alcohol not up to par..but not terrible either. 85 pts.

Sebastiani Vineyards 1995 Zinfandel Old Vines Cuvee Sonoma $18 13.7-percent alcohol -- probably tasty on a long weekend..mediocre nose. Better tasting as it develops. 88 pts.

Geyser Peak Winery 1995 Zinfandel Sonoma $16 -- well made but unexciting. Not enough fruit. 87 pts.

Louis M. Martini Winery 1994 Zinfandel Heritage Collection, Unfiltered, Unfined Sonoma $12 13.5-percent alcohol – no comment (bad bottle?) 79 pts.

Louis M. Martini Winery 1994 Zinfandel Gnarly Vine Monte Rosso Sonoma Valley $30 14.4-percent alcohol -- nice nose. Over-priced but delicious. 90 pts.

Dry Creek Vineyard 1995 Zinfandel Old Vines Sonoma $16 14.5-percent alcohol Hot nose, beautiful taste but cheap tasting if that makes any sense. 86 pts.

Morgan Winery 1995 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley $15 13.5-percent alcohol Winemaking makes this wine better than it should be... 88 pts.

Lake Sonoma Cellars 1995 Zinfandel Heck Family Cellars Selection Dry Creek Valley $17 14.5 -percent alcohol -- mediocre nose. Nice finish. Tasty overall but not great. 87 pts.

Tria 1996 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley $18 n/a Secondary. Fruity style. Great finish. OK 88 pts.

Tria 1996 Zinfandel Napa Valley 1$6 n/a Nice. Well made. Clean. Basic. 88 pts.

Truchard Vineyards1996 Zinfandel Carneros, Napa Valley $18 13.5-percent alcohol -- flawed nose ruins overall impression. Good fruit. 87 pts.

Clos du Val 1994 Zinfandel Stags Leap District, Napa Valley $16 13.0-percent alcohol -- Nothing going for it. 87 pts.

Burgess Cellars 1995 Zinfandel Napa Valley $13 13.1-percent alcohol -- Great finish. Good flavors. 89 pts.

Beaulieu Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel Napa Valley $14 14.2-percent alcohol -- nothing special. 87 pts.

Ballentine Vineyards 1995 Zinfandel Estate Napa Valley $16 14.3-percent alcohol -- tasty but slightly herbaceous for my taste. 88 pts.

Markham Vineyards 1994 Zinfandel Napa Valley $17 13.0-percent alcohol -- disappointing with funny acids (citric?) 86 pts.

Whitehall Lane Winery 1995 Zinfandel Napa Valley $20 14.5-percent alcohol -- 18% Petite Sirah. Perfect blend of flavors. Fantastic 91 pts.

Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery 1994 Zinfandel Estate Howell Mountain $16 14-percent alcohol -- Atypical Zin but appealing and flavorful. 89 pts.

Fife Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel Old Vines Napa Valley $20 14.2-percent alcohol -- Flat nose but great flavors. Clean! 89 pts.

Fife Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel Redhead Redwood Valley, Mendocino $20 13.5-percent alcohol -- Excellent nose. Great flavors. Perfect acidity. First hit on back of palate impressive. 90 pts.

Fife Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel Mendocino $17 14.2-percent alcohol -- herbaceous nose. Skunky. Good underlying fruit 85 pts.

Hidden Cellars 1995 Zinfandel Old Vines Mendocino $16 13.5-percent alcohol – Not impressed. 79 pts.

Dunnewood Vineyards 1994 Zinfandel Barrel Select; Coastal Series Mendocino $9 13.5-percent alcohol -- nothing special. 82 pts.

Parducci Wine Cellars 1995 Zinfandel North Coast $10.5 13.5-percent alcohol -- Not bad. 87 pts.

Boeger Winery 1995 Zinfandel Estate El Dorado $12 13.7-percent alcohol -- 12% Petite Sirah...good but not to my liking 86 pts.

Montevina Winery 1996 Zinfandel Brioso Amador $7 12-percent alcohol -- very light undistinguished, disappointing 79 pts.

Perry Creek Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel ZinMan Sierra Foothills $12 14.5-percent alcohol -- no nose, fair flavors, good finish 82 pts.

Hunter Ashby 1995 Zinfandel California $11.5 13.0-percent alcohol -- rich, tasty, nice..Blue hated it 88 pts.

Glen Ellen Winery & Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel Proprietor's Reserve California $7 13.2-percent alcohol -- not to my liking 82 pts.

Daniel Lawrence Wine Consortium 1996 Zinfandel Vineyard Select California $12 13.9-percent alcohol insecticide-like flavors 79 pts.

Baron Herzog Wine Cellars 1996 Zinfandel Kosher California $12 14.2-percent alcohol -- unusual and interesting flavors...nice nose 88 pts.

Villa Mt. Eden 1995 Zinfandel California $12 13-percent alcohol -- nothing special, but not flawed 87 pts.

Rosenblum Cellars Nonvintage Zinfandel Vintner's Cuvee XV California $9.5 13.2-percent alcohol -- lovely wine for the price...good every day..SO2 noticed 88 pts.

Rosenblum Cellars Nonvintage Zinfandel Vintner's Cuvee XVI California $9.5 13.2-percent alcohol -- heavier than XV..excellent 88 pts.

Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel Rockpile Dry Creek Valley 1$8 15.2-percent alcohol -- excellent all around flavors..only fair finish.88 pts.

Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel Reserve Pato Contra Costa $19 14.7-percent alcohol Needs age. Available only at the winery. Fabulous wine. 91 pts.

Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel Harris-Kratka Alexander Valley $22 14.6-percent alcohol -- Stupendous Zin nose.Lingering flavors.Killer 91 pts.

King Estate Winery 1994 Zinfandel Oregon $18 14.5-percent alcohol -- interesting as an oddity. develops in glass 86 pts.

entire website copyright (c) 1998 by John C. Dvorak