We came across Zenaida Cellars towards the end of a recent Paso Robles trip. It was supposed to be our last winery of the stay as we made our way out of town, but upon the recommendation of the woman serving us 10:30 a.m., we headed up the road to Ecluse. We are now members…
Category: Zinfandel
California, Under $20, Zinfandel
Review: 2012 Criss Cross Old Vine Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
This warm, chocolatey wine has a full-mouth feel. It’s pert, it’s spicy and it’s jammy. Because this wine comes from Lodi, it makes sense that it would have that mocha taste. Zinfandels from Lodi tend to have rich flavors and smoky finishes. A friend brought this over to watch a TV show at my place.…
Review, Zinfandel
Review: 2011 Challis Lane Old Vine Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
This Old Vine Zinfandel won’t blow your socks off, but it’s a smooth, very gulp-able wine with just a bit of zest at the end. This fruity wine smells like berries and tastes like them, too. This plum-purple drink will make your teeth just as mauve, so be careful not to pose for any pictures…
California, Review, Under $20, Zinfandel
Review: 2011 Sincera Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
Berries! Berries! Berries! If the 2011 Sincera Zinfandel could talk, it’s first word would be berries. If you’re a fan of earthy, spicy zinfandel’s, this isn’t for you. But if you like fruity reds, give this one a try. But for the price, $16.95, there are better zins out there. Wilfred Wong from BevMo…
Review, Under $15, Zinfandel
Review: 2010 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
Crowded around a six-person table at one of our favorite Italian joints in Santa Monica last week, the Zinfandel kept pouring. Partially because that favorite Italian joint, Fritto Misto, only charges $2 a person for corkage, and partially because a friend who loves Zinfandel and brought several bottles to dinner, is also a generous pour. He’s…
California, Under $20, Zinfandel
Review: 2009 Sebastiani Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
Remember how I cracked the code behind old vine zinfandel and zinfandel? Well, since then I haven’t had much of America’s sweetheart wine and since it’s one of my favorite varietals, I had to break the dry streak. I brought over a bottle of the 2009 Sebastiani Zinfandel to a friend’s house earlier this week…
Interesting Fact, Musing, Zinfandel
Old Vine Zinfandel vs. Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
If I was blindfolded and you put an Old Vine Zinfandel in front of me and a non-Old Vine Zinfandel, I probably couldn’t tell the difference. So I started asking around: what separates the two, flavor-wise? Ondine Chattan, winemaker at XYZin Wines told me Old Vine Zinfandels tend to brighten the characteristics of the Zinfandel grape: producing…
Review, Under $15, Under $20, Zinfandel
Review: Peachy Canyon Zinfandel
by wineforthewin •
When Peachy Canyon Winery gave me a hat tip on Twitter for my handle, which is the same as my blog name, I knew we’d get along. Then when they told me they they made luscious reds, I really knew we’d get along. I picked up a bottle of their 2008 “Incredible Red” Zinfandel recently…