Zinfandel Results – Just In Time For Grilling Season

Grilling season is one of my favorite times of year and nothing complements grilled foods better than Zinfandel. My early days of wine reviewing and my passion for wine started with big and bold Zinfandels. I fondly remember heading to Dry Creek with my cousin, to cover as many Zins as we could try in a day. We would always finish the day with a Cline “Live Oak” on the way back to San Francisco. Cline was always open one hour later than everyone else, to catch the weary tasters on the way out of the valley. Those were the days. These days, there are some new players at the top of the Zinfandel scene. They are reviving the grape and making a name for themselves as well. I hope you take the time to explore this unique and exciting grape, along with a big messy rack of barbecue ribs.

Our winner this year was a late entry and quite frankly the last Zinfandel based wine I covered. It is a bit of a blend, but was by far the best Zin option that I covered. The 2009 Paraduxx “Z Blend” from Napa for $48 is Excellent. I awarded it 95 points. This wine is a blend of 62% Zinfandel, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Merlot. This wine opens with an inviting mild blueberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is very impressive. It is full-bodied, ridiculously smooth and silky. I loved its delicious blueberry flavors with nicely integrated mild oak and notes of black cherry, plum, and a dash of black pepper. The finish is dry and its fine tannins are subtle and linger slightly. This terrific wine is very food-friendly and it would pair perfectly with a filet mignon. I loved this wine and drank every drop of it.  You will love it too!!

Our top 100% Zinfandel this year is the 2009 Robert Biale “Black Chicken” Zinfandel from Oak Knoll in California. This wine is also impressive. I award this offering 93 points. It was a huge hit with our dinner group at Del Frisco’s in Boston a while back. So much so, that we ordered a second bottle. It is fruit-forward, rich and balanced with delicious extracted black raspberry and boysenberry flavors. It finishes dry and its fruit flavors linger for quite some time after the wine is gone. I would suggest pairing it with veal marsala.

Next up are the top two finishers in our Big Blind tasting. Both wines scored 92 points from the panel. The 2008 Shannon Ridge “Home Ranch Two Bud Block” Zinfandel for $24 opens with a mild and attractive boysenberry bouquet with notes of cedar in the background. On the palate, it was full-bodied, very well balanced, and quite smooth. I personally thought this Zin was delicious and the panel voted similarly. Its flavor profile is a blueberry and boysenberry blend with nicely integrated black pepper, spice and a touch of oak. It finishes dry; its flavors and mild tannins sail away nicely. The panel agreed that this Zin was built for a filet mignon.

The 2009 Mauritson “Dry Creek Valley” Zinfandel for $27 also drew some 1st place votes from the panel. As mentioned before it also scored 92 points. This offering opens with a fragrant boysenberry bouquet with a touch of blackberry, strawberry, and smoky oak. It is full-bodied, nicely balanced, and quite smooth. The panel loved its very tasty mild blueberry flavors with nicely integrated old oak and dark cherries. They also detected a dash of black pepper as well. It finishes with dry fine tannins that are a touch sticky. Yet at the same time they are elegant and land softly. The panel suggested that this Zin would also be perfect with filet mignon.

This 92 pointer is still available and I covered it a while ago, before its actual release. I would bet it is showing even better than the score I gave it back then. The 2008 Ravenswood “Teldeschi’ Zin from Dry Creek Valley is one of Joel Petersons Single Vineyard blends. This offering comes in at $35 and is made from 75% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 3% Carignane, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. It was full-bodied, balanced, and very smooth. I enjoyed its tasty mild black cherry flavors with notes of gentle oak. Its dry and sturdy tannins are sticky and show very good length. If you are looking for a little bolder Zin, give this one a try with a dry-aged ribeye from Grill 23 restaurant in Boston.

Our next wine is another Zin based blend.  The 2009 Orin Swift “Prisoner” for $35 is always popular with our tasting panel.  This year’s blend is comprised of 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Grenache, and 1% Malbec. The panel scored this wine 91 points. They described it as full-bodied, balanced, and savory with tasty black raspberry and plum flavors. They also detected notes of black pepper and a hint of cherry vanilla as well. It finishes with dry and building gentle dusty tannins which are a little bit sticky. The panel suggested pairing this wine with several meals. Garlic pork roast, venison or buffalo burgers topped the list.

Our next winner is from one of the top Zin producers in the Dry Creek Valley. The 2009 Seghesio “Cortina” Zinfandel was my favorite from their portfolio this year. It costs $38 per bottle and I scored it 91 points. There were 2,500 cases made, so you should be able to find some. This 100% Zin is medium-bodied, balanced, and fruity. I really liked its classic black raspberry flavors with notes of plum, gentle old oak and a touch of black pepper. It closes with moderate sticky tannins that linger for some time. Those tannins and its flavor profile make it a good match for slow cooked beef brisket.

Our last 91 pointer is the 2008 Robert Biale “Black Chicken” Zinfandel for $40. This vintage is medium-bodied, balanced, and fruit-forward blackberry jam flavors. What added to its intrigue were the notes of black pepper, black cherry, and black currant that were so nicely integrated. It finishes dry with dusty vanilla oak tannins that linger for quite some time. I feel that this big fruit bomb Zin would be a perfect choice for big rack of barbecue ribs this summer.

Speaking of a wine that would be perfect with a messy rack of barbecue ribs and some moist corn bread. Our top 90 pointer comes from one of our favorite Zin producers. The 2009 Four Vines “Biker” Zinfandel from Paso Robles is our top scoring Four Vines Zin this year. This fruit bomb opens with a classic fragrant blackberry jam bouquet with a hint of licorice. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very fruit-forward. I really liked its ripe blackberry jam flavors with notes of plum and a hint of oak and black pepper. It finishes dry and its fruit flavors linger for quite a while. If you love fruity Zins give this one a whirl.

The 2010 Seghesio “Sonoma County” Zinfandel is Seghesio’s entry level Zin offering. It is always very good and consistently gets high marks from the trade. This vintage continues those winning ways as I awarded this wine 90 points. It is medium-bodied, juicy and fruit-forward with very tasty black raspberry flavors. I also got notes of boysenberry, black pepper and blackberry mixed in as well. It closes with dry, moderate tannins that are quite sticky. Its fruit flavors also linger for a while making this just another very Good Zin to consider with messy barbecue ribs you are grilling up this summer.

Ballentine Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel “Old Vines” (Napa) $21 (90)
This Zinfandel opens with a heavenly blueberry and plum bouquet. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and fruit forward with tasty blueberry and black cherry flavors and notes of old oak. Serve this rich Zin with roasted duck breast with a reduced blackberry sauce.

Ferrari Carano 2009 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (90)
This Zinfandel Ferrari Carano is quite a fruit bomb. It opens with a fragrant black raspberry jam bouquet. It is medium-bodied, fruit forward, and very jammy. We really liked it ripe black raspberry flavors with notes of red currant jelly and black plum. Its juicy fruit flavors linger making it a perfect wine to pair with meat lasagna.

Miro 2010 Zinfandel “Old Vine Grist Vineyard” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (90)
This Zinfandel opens with a very fragrant blueberry bouquet with a hint of cranberry. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very fruit forward. It displays extracted plum flavors with notes of boysenberry and a hint of red raspberry. I would pair this very rich Zin with cherry amaretto chicken. 

Hartford 2009 Zinfandel “Old Vine” (Russian River Valley, CA) $35 (90)
This fruit bomb from Hartford is full-bodied, slightly acidic, juicy and very fruit forward. The fruit flavors are a red currant and black raspberry blend with notes of black pepper and spice. The panel suggested pairing this wine with venison stew and a manchengo cheese platter by the fireplace.

Alysian 2009 Zinfandel “Block Three Bradford Mountain” (Sonoma County) $36 (90)
This Zinfandel opens up and improves a great deal after some time in the glass and a few swirls. It is medium-bodied, balanced and juicy. It shows off juicy plum flavors with notes of strawberry licorice and a touch of black cherry. Its mild and slightly dusty tannins are well controlled. Pair it with thyme seasoned pork tenderloin.

Seghesio 2009 Zinfandel “Old Vine” (Sonoma County) $38 (90)
Another treat from Seghesio. This offering is medium-bodied, slightly acidic, lush and savory. The panel liked its mild plum flavors with notes of blackberry, black pepper and spice. The panel suggested that this Zin would pair well with barbecue beef ribs.

Cakebread 2009 Zinfandel  (Red Hills, CA) $41 (90)
This Zinfandel from Cakebread is medium-bodied, balanced, and smooth. Its flavor profile is an oak-infused plum with notes of blackberry, blueberry and hint of cola. It finishes dry and its mild tannins are friendly. The panel suggested pairing this Zin with a juicy Angus bacon burger or a flank steak.

Our 89 Point Zins:
Four Vines 2009 Zinfandel “Maverick” (Amador County, CA) $15 (89)
This Zinfandel was deemed to be a friendly Zin by the panel. It is medium-bodied and soft. Its displays gentle plum flavors with hints of black licorice. The panel suggested pairing this friendly Zin with pork tenderloin.

Bradford 2007 Zinfandel “Dry Creek Vineyard” $18 (89)
This Zinfandel opens with a pretty blueberry and mild blackberry bouquet. It is medium-bodied, smooth and easy to drink. I liked its tasty black cherry flavors with hints of juicy blueberry, mild vanilla oak and dark chocolate.

Four Vines 2009 Zinfandel “The Sophisticate” (Sonoma County) $20 (89)
Consistently a reader’s favorite. The 2009 is medium-bodied, balanced and juicy with tasty red currant and plum flavors with notes of pomegranate mixed in. Perfect to pair with lamb kabobs.

Duckhorn 2009 Zinfandel “Decoy” (Sonoma Country) $22 (89)
This is a very nice Zin from the folks at Duckhorn. They also made our top scoring wine. The Decoy is medium-bodied, fruit-forward and displays nice flavors. Those flavors are a black cherry and black raspberry blend with notes of nicely integrated black pepper and some old oak. The finish is dry and it is nicely prolonged.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2008 Zinfandel “Old Vine” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (89)
Our last highlighted 89 pointer is the “Old Vine” Zin from Dry Creek.  This offering is medium-bodied, balanced, and round. The panel liked its oak-infused plum flavors with a hint of black currant. It finishes with dry dusty tannins that are nicely prolonged. The panel thought this Zin would pair well with beef bourguignon or Coq au Vin.

Other 89 Pointers To Consider:
Murphy Goode 2006 Zinfandel “Snake Eyes” (Alexander Valley) $35 (89)
Sebastiani 2009 Zinfandel “Dry Creek Valley” (CA) $30 (89)
Grgich Hills 2008 Zinfandel “Estate Grown” (Napa Valley, CA) $35 (89)
Acorn 2008 Zinfandel “Heritage Vines” (Russian River Valley, CA) $35  (89)
V. Sattui 2009 Zinfandel “Crow Ridge Vineyard” (Russian River Valley, CA) $37 (89)
Tres Sabores 2008 Zinfandel “Rutherford” (CA) $35  (Organic) (89)

Our Other Very Good Zins recommendations:
Navarro Vineyards 2009 Zinfandel “Mendocino” (CA) $19 (88)
Truett Hurst 2009 Zinfandel “Red Rooster” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (88)
Dashe 2008 Zinfandel “Louvau Vineyard Old Vines” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $32 (88)
Murphy Goode 2008 Zinfandel “Liar’s Dice” (Sonoma County, CA) $21 (87)

A Good Value Zin to keep on your radar:
The 2009 Four Vines “Old Vine Cuvee” Zinfandel for $12 is a Good bulk purchase wine to consider. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very easy to drink. Its flavor profile is a mild plum and mild oak blend with a hint of black cherry and a dash of black pepper in the background. It is a pleasant everyday Zin that would pair well with a burger, pizza or even lasagna. They made 50,000 cases so stock up with this affordable Zin for all your summer barbecues.

I hope you have as much fun exploring Zinfandels this summer as I did covering them this winter. Zinfandel is such a fun grape. Please feel free to post a comment and tell me and my readers about your favorite Zinfandel discoveries.

Cheers – Ken