Tasting Notes IV In late July, 1998 Anthony Dias Blue and I sat down to yet another collection of Zins including some soon-to-be released collectibles. The 20th Anniversary wines from Rosenblum being the most remarkable. The following are the notes. Quivira Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) $16.5 -- 13.5-percent alcohol -- Good underlying flavors...but too acidic. 87pts. J. Fritz Winery 1996 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) $28 -- 14.8-percent alcohol -- Beautiful fruity nose. Nice...great finish. 90 pts. Pedroncelli Winery 1996 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) -- $8.50 -- 13.8-percent alcohol -- Cheap nose, but nice candy flavors...not too bad for price. 88 pts. The Meeker Vineyard 1995 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) -- $16 -- n/a -- Very typical Zin nose...nothing special overall. 86 pts The Meeker Vineyard 1996 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) -- $16 -- n/a -- Bottled late May 1998. Tart..re-taste later. 80 pts. Gallo of Sonoma 1995 Zinfandel -- Frei Ranch (Dry Creek Valley) -- $14 -- 14,3 alcohol -- Not tasting well tonight...didn't like..Andy liked it more than I did. 88 pts. A. Rafanelli 1996 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) -- $18.50 -- 14-percent alcohol --  Expensive style...not ready tonight, but still excellent. 90 pts. Lambert Bridge 1994 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) -- $20 -- 14.1-percent alcohol -- 82% Zin., 12% Syrah, 4% ps, 2% carig. Unusual style but tasty . 91 pts. Alderbrook Vineyards & Winery 1996 Zinfandel -- George's Estate (Dry Creek Valley) -- $25 -- 14.9-percent alcohol -- About sold out. Way too port-like..but tasty. 88 pts. Mazzocco Vineyards 1995 Zinfandel -- Quinn (Dry Creek Valley) -- $22 -- 14.3-percent alcohol -- Nice wine..great nose..not excellent enough for my taste. 88 pts. Hop Kiln Winery 1996 Zinfandel (Sonoma) 16 -- 14.1-percent alcohol -- Very tasty...nice fruity style Zin. flat finish begs for more oak. 88 pts. Hop Kiln Winery 1996 Zinfandel/Primativo -- (Sonoma) $22 -- n/a -- Not impressed...but not bad either. A curiosity. 88 pts. Taft Street Winery 1996 Zinfandel (Sonoma) -- $12 -- 13.6-percent alcohol -- Nice wine..good value. Clean..mixed style..beautiful vanilla nose. 89 pts. Remarkable Rosenblum 20th Anniversary Zinfandels in Special Bottles. Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel -- St. Peter's Church (Sonoma) -- $24 -- 13.9-percent alcohol -- Definitive nose...fantastic wine...finish just short of perfect. Special bottling and traditional punchdown techniques used in these wines. 94 pts. Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel -- Cullinane (Sonoma Valley) -- $26 -- 13.8-percent alcohol -- More subdued than previous (St. Peter's) and might develop into 95 pts or more with age. Great anyway. 92 pts. Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel -- Brandlin (Mt. Veeder) $26 -- 14.3-percent alcohol -- Stunning Zin, period. 93 pts. Kunde Estate Winery 1996 Zinfandel -- Shaw Vineyard, Estate (Sonoma Valley) $20 -- 13.9-percent alcohol -- Clean, well made Zin...nice layers of fruit..young..needs age. 89 pts. Kenwood Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel (Sonoma Valley) $15 -- 13.5-percent alcohol -- Common nose..better flavors than expected. Nice overall. 88 pts. Haywood Winery 1995 Zinfandel -- Los Chamizal, Estate (Sonoma Valley) $29 -- 14.6-percent alcohol -- Short...not to my liking..opens up...may have too much SO2 (sneezed from it). Blue gave it a 91. Not me. 87 pts. Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel -- Geyserville (California) -- $22 -- 14.9-percent alcohol -- 75% Zin 17% Carignane 6% Petite Sirah 2% Mataro. Classic Ridge..excellent. 91 pts. Ridge Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel -- Lytton Springs -- $25 -- 14.5-percent alcohol -- 78% Zin., 19% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignane, 1% Grenache. Just excellent. Ridge Style..complex. 91 pts. Fetzer Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel (California) $9 -- 13.5-percent alcohol -- Nothing special...drinkable. 86 pts. Beringer Vineyards 1995 Zinfandel (North Coast) $12 -- 13.4-percent alcohol -- As well made as wine can be..but short and astringent..will improve. 90 pts. St. Supery 1996 Zinfandel (California) $10 -- 13-percent alcohol -- Beautiful nose..falls flat. 84 pts. Eos Estate Winery 1996 Zinfandel -- Helios (Paso Robles) -- $16 -- 13.8-percent alcohol -- One-dimensional..flat...did not like. 82 pts. Peachy Canyon Winery 1996 Zinfandel -- Eastside (Paso Robles) $15 -- 14.8-percent alcohol -- Nothing special..light. 84 pts. Peachy Canyon Winery 1996 Zinfandel (Paso Robles) $25 -- 15.3-percent alcohol -- Nice...but alcohol too high. 87 pts. Renwood Winery 1996 Zinfandel (Amador) $16 -- 14.5-percent alcohol -- Unusual but likeable nose...nice flavors...good wine. 89 pts. Easton 1996 Zinfandel (Shenandoah Valley)  $18 -- 14.5-percent alcohol -- Exemplifies Amador style..nice wine..dry...needs age. 90 pts. Greenwood Ridge Vineyards 1996 Zinfandel (Mendocino) $16 -- 14.2-percent alcohol -- This wine is good! Elizabeth/Lolonis vineyards. 91 pts. Hidden Cellars 1996 Zinfandel (Mendocino) -- $18 -- 15-percent alcohol -- Astringent, uninteresting, but long finish. 85 pts. Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel -- White Cottage (Howell Mountain) $21 -- 13.7-percent alcohol. Classic Rosenblum. Enough said. 90 pts Rosenblum Cellars 1996 Zinfandel -- Samsel (Sonoma Valley) -- $28 -- 14.9-percent alcohol -- Did not like. Good overall, nice finish..high alc. 87 pts. Markham Vineyards 1995 Zinfandel (Napa Valley) $18 -- 14.8-percent alcohol -- Clean, well-made, but nothing special. 88 pts. Cosentino Winery 1996 Zinfandel (California) -- $22 -- 14.9-percent -- Big monster. Dark, complex, but also odd. and unusual..long finish.87pts. entire website copyright (c) 1998 by John C. Dvorak