Valravn Zinfandel (Sonoma) 2015

Garnet hue with aromas of sweet baked bread above the rim with loads of amazing spices wrapping a lovely package of big fruity blackberries with cigar ash, hints of milk chocolate.

Palate--a really nice dark berry front palate with a modest first impression of being a touch austere but relinquishing control with nice spicy berry flavors with a solid structure that will only become more finessed in a couple years.

Unlike some Zins, this one is made with a serious style yielding not only a delicious by-itself-quaff but a really nice food wine. Sonoma produces the best Zins in my opinion with Rosenblum (may it rest in peace) being the former king producing over 25 different Zins from different parcels and levels of quality. Sadly I think those days might be gone. I consider myself an expert when it comes to Zinfandel for in over 40 years of wine study, I have had more Zins than possibly any 10 varietals combined. But I don'd find Rosenblum in my neck of the woods and the few that I have tried since they were acquired by Bronco Brands back in 2008 were lacking...

I would love to be shown to be wrong but as I say, I don't see them in my geographical locale. At any rate, this is a really nice Zin for the price ($20) and I will be pairing it with charcoal grilled short cut steak. So if you see this around, grab it, and raise a glass!

Comments

We've moved!

After a few year hiatus from my "real" wine blog, you can now find my reviews at the winecask.blogspot.com I started this blog many years ago and was ranked the #8 wine blog on the world wide web. I am a regular guy with a very limited wallet so I drink what you drink with rare exceptions. So scoot on over there, follow me if you want short, no non sense wine info. Raise a glass!

Peachy Canyon Zinfandel 2017

Nice depth of hue at a dark cranberry jelly with aromas of stewed cherries, and tart pie cherries. Palate--Nice first impression with dry tannins, impressive Zin dark berry flavors full of spice and lingering berry flavors. Peachy Canyon has always made a decent inexpensive Zin and this is at the $8 price point at Trader Joes. It is satisfying, and though it is at cellar temperature at the moment it will even be bigger and open to more expressive Zinfandel fruit. This Lodi Zin is another example of Lodi really coming into its own for solid Zins which are value priced. I still like Sonoma Zins as my fave but honestly it won't be long before long that Lodi may bust their bubble. Raise a glass!

Emma Reichart Gewürztraminer 2020

*Label is for their Riesling not their Gewurztraminer Pale straw hue with loads of sweet aromas consisting of vanilla, citrus, tropical fruit with a lime splash. Palate--mouth watering acid, mouth filling tropical fruit, lime base, with sweet-tart freshness This $10 Gewürztraminer literally "Spicy Traminer" is one of my favorite German grapes and under appreciated much in the way German Riesling is. If you can get past the name, it's a lovely wine that pairs with Asian foods, spicy foods, or all by itself so raise a glass!

Wine Reviews You can Use

Search This Blog