As you may know, I love Zinfandels. They are bold, spicy and sassy; kind of like me.

Wine Spectator has a couple of highly recommended, highly rated Zinfandels this month that I am posting and going to go out to purchase. I’ll post my thoughts and recommendations after I have the chance to give them a try myself.

Carlisle

The first recommendation is Carlisle, 2007 Russian River Valley Papera Ranch Zinfandel. Rating of 96 and priced at about $40, Wine Spectator notes (p. 83):

A real knockout. Bold and intense, yet complex, with ripe cherry fruit deftly balanced by vibrant acidity. Offers floral aromas with notes of black raspberry, pepper and lingering Asian spice that lead to full but fleshy tannins.(p. 83)

Only 651 cases were made and it is drinkable through 2015, but with such a short supply of cases, hopefully I will be able to find this treasure before it’s gone!

Adelaida

The second recommendation is Adelaida 2007 Paso Robles Michael’s Estate Vineyard Zinfandel. Rating 92 and priced at about $28, Wine Spectator writes:

This briary red is nicely focused and structured, with loamy clay and smoky berry aromas that lead to gutsy wild blackberry, cracked pepper and licorice flavors. Finishes with ripe tannins. (p. 83)

821 cases made and it is drinkable now through 2015 as well. If you find these wines and have had the opportunity to enjoy, please post your comments, thoughts and ratings too!

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Ok, I have to admit that as a wine consultant working with a Napa Valley winery, I have primarily focused on drinking our wines, only occasionally expanding my palette into the ever increasing world of luscious wines. That’s about to change. As a wine consultant, I feel it is my responsibility to know about many different wines, so I can truly compare and contrast and know what the right wine is for the right occasion and food and be able to recommend the right wine to my clients.

I’ve posted in other blogs about a few wines I’ve sampled and enjoyed. I have been receiving Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazine for quite some time and so it is my duty now to focus on finding and sampling the reasonably priced wines listed in the magazine and help educate you about those wines; whether they meet the mark for my unsophisticated palette and based on my experience what I think my readers and tasting guests would enjoy.

I often receive recommendations from my tasting guests and because all my tasting guests are so much fun and great people, I want to learn from them as well. One of my guests the other night recommended 7 Deadly Zins, and since I had not yet tried it, I went out and purchased a bottle.

7 Deadly Zins, Lodi Appellation Old Vine Zinfandel 2007

Zinfandel is one of my favorite wines; I love the complexity along with the spicy finish. Last night I opened a bottle of 7 Deadly Zins. I found it rated on wine.com as a 90, but in searching through my Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast mags, can’t find it listed.

The first thing I noticed with this wine when I opened and poured it is the abundance of smoky aromas (almost like bacon). According to the winemaker, it is aged completely in American oak, loaded with berry fruit, pepper, spice, and earth characteristics.

When a wine is aged in oak, it pulls in many of the oak characteristics of the barrel, and this wine is no exception. It was highly aromatic, very interesting, and although the nose was strong and smoky, the flavors were somewhat more balanced, although a smoky flavor was still very apparent. I did find it lacking in the strong spiciness that is so wonderful about Zinfandels. It was a smooth wine, not overly tannic, and very drinkable.

Rating

Overall, the wine was very good, and on my rating scale, I’d rate it an 87.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Syrah

I met some new friends last night at Carmella’s in Appleton: Mary Clare, Laura, Susan and many others. Such a a good time with this networking group. What a great group of women!

Carmella’s (had an awesome antipasto appetizer) is an Italian Bistro, and so obviously, there was much wine to be had (my kind of place)! Some of my new friends enjoy Syrah (although they all had different wines last night) and so I thought I would write about Syrah today in honor of my new friends.

Syrah’s origin is likely the Rhône Valley in France, and is today widely grown in many premium wine regions including one of my favorites, California. Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape, Syrah more commonly referred to in America and Europe, and Shiraz in Australia and South Africa.

Syrah is a beautiful, big, bold, hardy wine, made from grapes that enjoy sun and is full of sugars and tannins, meaning this wine tends to age well.

With common notes blackberry, plum, spice, leather, this wine reminds me a bit of Zinfandel with its spicy finish. I think that’s why I enjoy it so much. Syrah pairs very nicely with grilled foods, Edam or Gouda cheese and I have included a recipe for your enjoyment as well.

I look forward to enjoying a glass or two of Syrah with my new friends. Please visit their websites:
Mary Clare at marketamerica.com/customconcepts
Susan Volkman at rrdonnelley.com
Laura Manley-Mispagel at northwesternmutual.com

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Zinfandel

Today I’ll be sharing a few tidbits of information about another favorite of mine: Zinfandel.

Zinfandel is a black grape that originated in Croatia, and until Cabernet Sauvignon took over in 1998, the Zinfandel was California’s most popular grape. This black grape varietal is used to make colorful, full-bodied, jammy wines with raspberry, blackberry, oak, hints of cinnamon and spice aromas and flavors and often ends with a peppery finish. I just love this wine with barbequed foods, pizzas and chili.

Zinfandel - a black grape varietal

If you have the opportunity to try an “old vine” Zinfandel, do take advantage. Old Vine Zinfandels are made from vines that have been producing grapes for over 40 years. We had an Old Vine Zinfandel that came from vines 75 years old and I can tell you, it was an amazing, well-balanced, firm and fruity wine.

Zinfandels are generally not age-worthy. In other words, you’ll want to enjoy them usually within 5 years. If you are looking for a wine that has a little bit of kick, though, this one is for you.

For those of you who are more familiar with the “white” Zinfandel wines, those wines are made from these same black grapes, but the pressing and fermentation process is different to remove the deep color and retain light sweetness.

A side note – when you enjoy your Zinfandel, I would recommend drinking in moderation. On occasion, while visiting with my sisters, I’ve enjoyed nearly a whole bottle and wake up the next morning with my right eye hurting … must be a slight allergy to the wine. Oh well, that won’t stop me from enjoying it, just not enjoying it in high quantities in one sitting anymore.

Cheers to full glasses all around!
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