***
The latest installment of tastings at Jason Hagen's office was blind Zinfandels. We had our usual blind white starter and enjoyed some pizza for lunch. The wines showed a decent amount of variety which was heartening to me as Zinfandel is so often lumped into a narrow category which I find unwarranted. All revels came after the tasting was finished.
I voted
1 - 2006 Sandler
2 - 2003 Fife
3 - 2003 Swan
Group Vote was pretty tight if I remember correctly with only a couple points separating the top 3 or 4.
1 - 2003 Fife
2 - 2005 Leonesse
3 - 2006 Sandler
4 - 2006 Saucelito
- 2003 Arcadian Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
Light butter and lemon nose. Touch of honey with plenty of lemon and strong acidity. A nice Chard without the hussy dressings.
- 2003 Joseph Swan Vineyards Zinfandel Mancini Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Very deeply colored this displayed huge yummy zinberry aromas. Bright palate with a good amount of tannins and big brightly fruited though somewhat straightforward giving some sweet boysenberry and licorice. Would have normally expected a big more complexity from a Swan and not quite a biggish in the fruit department. - 2005 St. Francis Zinfandel Old Vines Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County
Soft round nose with some heat and tart berry. Dark heavy fruit, somewhat soft and bland. Seemed to be have some oxidation or an aged quality in the background.
- 2005 Leonesse Cellars Zinfandel - USA, California
Very ripe juicy type of nose with plenty of heat and VA. Very juicy with a nice palate feel. Full and candy like. The type of Zin that gave it a bad name with wine geeks. VA got worse with air. - 2006 Sandler Wine Company Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Very light color. Soft light berries on the nose. Soft elegant lean palate feel with very late acting tannins. Has potential to get better. My favorite on the tasting.
- 2006 Saucelito Canyon Zinfandel - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley
Tight nose showing plenty of heat and a touch of reduction. Big juicy full feeling palate, big sweet fruit showing signs of oak. - 2005 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
Odd nose showing some brown sugar and caramel, bit tight. On the leaner side of palate feel with a dark fruited young character with some sweetness and violets. Odd for a Zin.
- 2003 Fife Zinfandel Mendocino Uplands - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
Straight forward zinberry nose that seems tart. Palate has nice tannic grip still with a juicy quality. Lots of berries and a bit of heat. Still pretty good and won our blind tasting on the day. A terrific bargain.
