The wine was a California Dry Creek Valley Zin from The Other Guys (TOG). The Other Guys (TOG) is the next page in the 100-year history of one of California’s oldest wine families. An outstanding Old Vine Zinfandel that has to be considered a best buy at only $15. California Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

decided to open the Zinfandel in lieu of an Italian wine(a requirement in this house) with a spaghetti dinner. Earlier in the day, I opened the Zinfandel, so Shirley could add to her tomato sauce and while opened, I did take a little sip. This was the first Bogle Zinfandel I tasted and as expected, I was quite pleased.

In May of 2009 I reviewed a Chardonnay from California that I named as the best Chardonnay I have ever tasted, a Clos Du Bois Calcaire. Tonight was time to uncork a 2008 North Coast Zinfandel( $12 ) to serve with an outstanding beef stew prepared by my daughter Pam. California ZinfandelThey are water-conscious too.

Wilson Winery Ellie's Old Vine Vineyard 2009 Zinfandel. Really delicious wine - very pleasantly surprised by the intense red cherry high notes and refreshing, lightweight texture of this wine which resembled a top cru Burgundy more than a heavy, saturated California Zinfandel. Suavia Soave Clasico DOC 2009 Veneto, Italy.

The wines were from California, Italy, France and New Zealand. Chateau Julien Gewurztraminer 2010 Carmel Valley, California Light golden colors, clean citrus notes of grapefruit, flowers, honey and jolly rancher green apple, the mild and simple palate shows spice and nice acidity. Great deal at $10. Nice long layered finish. SRP $40.

Have you ever said, “I cannot wait to get home and pop open a bottle of red California Trousseau!” Assuming the wines are done well, I think the expansion of grape varieties beyond the Big Six is potentially one of the most exciting stories to come out of California, nay, all of America. But maybe you should? American win

Today it will be a 2009 old vine Zinfandel from Baus Family Vineyards in Sonoma County California. California ZinfandelIt's been a lazy Sunday afternoon, watching NFL games and Nascar while waiting for playoff game two between the St. Louis Cardinals and my Phillies. The Baus Vineyards produce two Zins. Not a good move.

As you may know, coastal regions in California are considered 'cool climate,' and 'cool climate' wines are premium quality. Then from Dry Creek (its spiritual home) the 09 Zinfandel, with its rich flavors of xmas spice and dark berry fruit. Jim Collins. lush palate with sumptuous yellow-fleshed fruit infused with vanilla. Salute!

He's also a wine lover, but his cellar is full of current California Cabernet and modern day wine from Bordeaux. He arrived at my house carrying a 375 ml bottle of 2001 Turley Paso Robles Zinfandel Delinquent. Not saying that I should spend more time with California wine, or give the Aussie Shiraz a fair shake.

Recently I received a few samples from Cinnabar Winery in the Paso Robles region of California. Tonight I opened the 2008 Sorcerer's Stone, a blend of Zinfandel 85%, Petite Sirah 10% and Teroldego 5% and right off the bat a relationship began. California Zinfandel red blendlittle smoke and a lot of fruit on the nose.

From the Amador County, appearance is clear with medium intensity and garnet ruby colors. On the nose a clean and wonderful intensity, with ample aromas of black cherry, cassis, a defined ripeness, coconut, vanilla and green peppers. Dry on the palate with medium acidity, medium tannins, fuller body, pronounced flavor and a long finish. alcohol

W$Jay was slumming it with zinfandel recently. Trinchero said that there was something of a zinfandel arms race in the early 70s. In 1972, to concentrate the red zinfandel, he bled off 550 gallons of (white) juice at the crush that he then didn’t know what to do with. Trinchero said “Oh, okay. Mistake. It took off.

USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley). Style note: A very good example of a California Cabernet Sauvignon that tries to represent its terroir, this well balanced wine offers layers of flavor and some real complexity. 2008 Wilson Winery Zinfandel. USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley). 8 views).

very good example of a California Cabernet Sauvignon that tries to represent its terroir, this well balanced wine offers layers of flavor and some real complexity. Wilson Zinfandel 2008 Dry Creek. big, rich, full bodied California Zinfandel with a rustic balance and sense of place and demand of terroir recognition.

For wines we opened a California Zinfandel, a Tuscan Chianti and some Finger Lakes Rieslings. Finally have some time off from work and can now catch up on many home projects, including the blog. have enjoyed a few very nice wines in the past month and have been able to try a few new varietals. Best I ever had. Well worth the price.

Glen Ellen Old Vine Zinfandel, Proprietor's Reserve 2008. Winemakers Notes: The immensely flavorful grapes of our classic Zinfandel mostly come from rare 120-year-old vines. Tags: California Zinfandel This is the wine we were drinking that started that discussion. Their Zin is even better. We finished the 1.5

Or a 1978 Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel that seemed more akin to a gorgeous northern Rhone than a brawny, young zinfandel. But I think it’s worth pausing on California wines since it gets to the question of young people and old wine. Is mature wine relevant? And, most pointedly, why do young people hate mature wine?

Thought by many to be one of the better California Zinfandels, Rosenblum Cellars makes this blend of the 2007 and 2008 vintage to very interesting results. Tags: California Rosenblum Risotto Il Poeta Restaurant Zinfandel Paired well with a risotto with sausage and radicchio at Il Poeta Restaurant.

Getting time to clean out the old wine fridge. After two months of laying around, drinking coffee, tea, water and gatorade and laying off the good stuff I am beginning to feel the need for a long day of wine shopping, but the fridge is full and I will just have to do my part in making room for more. Here the grapes for Frascati are grown.

I love it when Shirley decides to experiment in the kitchen. It either means we end up going out to dinner or I am in for a special treat. don't always know where she gets her inspiration and last night I did not see any of her cookbooks on the counter, so that means she thought about this recipe while trimming her herb garden.

I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. was also out of bed early enough to tag along, which is unusual. did stop at one and tasted their 2007 Meritage. It seems to be that the wine always is a bit different, no, a lot different than what I remembered.

then decided to open a 3 litre box of Boho Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel that was sent to me from the Underdog Wine Merchants. Winemakers Notes: The grapes from the Oakley Old Zinfandel Vines provide the base for this wine. Tags: box wine California Zinfandel At present, my Cardiologist has OK'd 3-4 oz.

Coppola has successfully striven to create a good everyday wine expressed here in a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon from Geyserville, California.

Here is a fine Napa blend of 46% Zinfandel, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono, and 1% Grenache. Deep violet colors in the glass, spreading to a garnet outer ring, with aromas of red berry and ripe black cherry and wafts of smoke. Robert Parker: 90 pts Wine Spectator: 92 pts Retails: $35

have since tasted a Monthaven Chardonnay (California) and this past week the Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand). Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Light and fruity with little oak was not what I expected from a CA Chard.

With May and New York Riesling month coming to close soon, it is safe to say that I tasted more Riesling this month than any one year in my life. The hard part was deciding which ones I would post on the blog. After this article I will post once more on a NY Riesling and may list all those I have had. Both were opened with a BBQ chicken dinner.

This past Monday evening was a first for me on-line. Because of my work schedule and Shirley's extra long 'honey-do' list I never have the chance to do a tweet up on Twitter or follow a wine party on Facebook. You can add comments or photos or just sit back, relax, read what others are having and just sip away on your own wine.

This past weeks edition of the Syracuse New Times, a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York, contained an interesting article on Finger Lakes Riesling. Gary noted four wineries, one of which I vaguely remember from an article written by Evan Dawson for the New York Cork Report. Sipping later was delightful.

To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. Doing so seemed almost impossible. Other than ordering on line, it is very difficult to find New York wines other than Finger Lakes and Adirondack wineries in the local shops. Enough history.

Just finished watching the movie "Avatar" while sipping on my first Riesling of the summer. Finger Lakes Riesling of course. This month is Riesling month in New York and this will be the first of many I'll enjoy over the next 30 days. The 2008 Red Tail Ridge semi-dry Riesling was suggested by my sister-in-law. This is now one of her favorites.

He’ll shop around the world’s best wine regions, including France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, and California to find some very good juice in bulk that a vineyard might sell for $55 per bottle and sell it for $15. Lot 154 Lake Country Zinfandel 2006: new release $13 Bubblegum, vanilla, banana and blueberry

Deep purple in color with a solid texture, an intense nose of ripe cherries, chalk, and raspberries expanding to notes of cedar, remnants of campfire charcoal and burnt marshmallows. Then on the palate firm layers of powdered cherry candy, distinct espresso, chocolate and black pepper. Has a high alcohol content of 15% and finishing like a Port.

Recently, the wife and I have been discussing a possible trip to California next year. The past few months I have been tasting, or should I say consuming, some really fantastic California wines from many different AVA's. Most notably, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Tags: California Petite Sirah red wine must buy!

I'm leaving Chile(till later) and heading over to California to try a few more Zin's. I'm starting to surprise myself with what I am finding with Zinfandel and also a bit disappointed that I wasted so many years with such a limited selection or narrow palate. The 2004 vintage is 96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah.

The wines are sourced from preeminent and emerging wine growing regions including Monterey County; California Central Coast; Marlborough, New Zealand; Spain and Hungary. Monthaven Chardonnay is made in California's largest small-lot winery," notes Jeff. It truly delivers artisan wine, a glass at a time," says Richardson.

This is the third of the Carmenere wines I tasted this month. As I stated in my previous two articles, Carmenere is one of the wines I've pushed aside in the past, but have placed on a list to re-examine in 2010. The first two left me with mixed feelings about the wine. did enjoy this with some Muenster and Dubliner cheese. It'll be fun!!!

Coopers had tried to bring the wood to California for aging but it was too dry in the summer for Draper’s taste.). Coming up in a future post, answers to the question: can Zinfandel age gracefully? Paul Draper is, without question, one of the world’s great winemakers. The road to Monte Bello. That’s about when the first vines appear.

It's been a few years since I tasted Carmenere. If I remember right, it was a take it or leave it, nothing special, too many other fine wines, don't shop for wine. My last review confirmed that feeling, but in a very serious attempt to expand a lazy palate I purchased a few different labels to compare. The first was disappointing.

Wish I had a nice Canadian wine tonight so I could toast the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team on their winning of the Gold medal. am not an avid hockey fan, but I do watch occasionally and tonight enjoyed one of the best ever games. Instead, I uncorked an Arboleda Carmenère 2006 from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Bring on the steaks!!! Wine Acidity: 5.31

BTW, they are Zinfandel, Syrah, Pitite Sirah and Carmenere. Vintage: 2007 Appellation: California Vineyard Sources: Clarksburg & Lodi Harvest Date: September 10 through October 24, 2007 Release Date: March 2009 Wine pH: 3.61 Tags: California red wine Petite Syrah Think my taste buds are back. Bogle Winery 2007. Great value!!

We started off with the two bubblies, both from Roederer but one from California’s Anderson Valley and the other from Champagne, as a way to highlight the differences between the two regions. By the time the grilled beef bulgoki came out, so did Bonny Doon Le Pousseur syrah and the Ridge Lytton Springs zinfandel.

Wine type: Red Wine Varietal: Blend Appellation: California Acid: 67 g/100ml PH: 4.06 Tags: California red blend One of the great things about social networking is that you often get in contact with friends and classmates from a time when all was great, life was fun and we were all going to live forever. Here's what I learned.

Sometimes when you least expect it, you open what may becomes your new favorite bottle of wine. Tonight I opened one of my remaining bottles of Finger Lakes wine purchased at my last tour in December. An Atwater Estate Vineyards , Cabernet-Merlot 2007. blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. Can't do much better than that. Alcohol: 13.0%

Big break in weather today here in Central New York. Temperatures will reach about 30F. Must be the annual January thaw! To celebrate I figured to open one of my usually reserved for warm weather whites. My choice is one that was recently purchased at Lakewood Vineyards on Seneca Lake at the December 'Deck the Halls" event. 2007 Riesling.

So, to start off the new year I opened one of my least favorite wines, Zinfandel. The Bonterra Zinfandel is one that I will buy again. Tags: California red wine Mendocino County Zinfandel organic Somewhere among my 50 New Year's resolutions (99.9% Zin is one wine that over the years I tried earnestly to enjoy. Alcohol 14.5%

Syrah has always been one to those wines I could take or leave it. Almost all that I had ever tasted were the Shiraz from Australia. While visiting Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake this past spring I tasted an excellent Syrah and I was sold. From that day on I was a fan. enjoyed the Syrah with Shirley's three bean chili.

And while I certainly would have enjoyed a zesty zinfandel with my steak, I didn’t really miss it. It’s the story of a young man who discovers a love of wine during a trip to Germany in the late sixties and who subsequently moves to a fictional California town to make great wines. Dr. Vino, Greetings from Basrah, Iraq!

This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. If I do, I will have to include the German grape, Dornfelder as one of the highlights. Dornfelder is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. It is the 3rd most planted red wine grape in Germany.

believe this is my first from the Paso Robles' region of California. The first was a little stomach problem that still lingers and the second was a fear that this would be like any other Zinfandel I've tried. The second bottle was an Agent for Change 2006 Zinfandel. Now Cabs I have no problem with.

For what it’s worth, I think he’s right; try spicy Thai dishes with high-alcohol gewurztraminer from Alsace or red zinfandel from California and be amazed by the synergy. Zinfandel and chicken jalfrezi? We love our impossible food-wine pairings around here. But others defy conventional wisdom.

And in comparison to Bordeaux prices and today's prices for California Cult wines, the 2000 Napa wines were (and in many cases still are) a bargain. I remember the 2000 vintage as a whirlwind of excitement. This was before the Tech Bubble Burst, Enron imploded, 9/11, and eight years of Bush Part Deux. In other words, a loser. was wrong.

Last night at Klee Brasserie on 9th avenue and 22nd street in Chelsea, NYC, the Wine Director Aet Soe (pronounced Aiy-yet) recommended this beautiful Zinfandel fruit-forward blend from Mendocino, California. 50% zinfandel, 45% petite syrah, 5% charbono. now that's an intesting blend. pH | 3.65

Ridge Vineyards Z-List Spring shipment included the 2007 Geyserville, East Bench, and Paso Robles zinfandels. I'm happy to say that 2007 zinfandel so far has exceeded expectations. Tags: Cellar Selection 2004 2 stars USA Central California 3 stars Ridge Vineyards 2007 Sonoma Napa Valley

From his base in Santa Cruz, he rose to fame (and a good bit of fortune) by following the path of grape varieties traditionally from the Rhone and Italy–with a dose of Zinfandel. Or Cardinal Zin, a Zinfandel with a Ralph Steadman depiction of a cardinal on the label. But Grahm has had a change of heart. Absolutely.

The other red was the 2006 Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel. have almost no experience whatsoever with Zinfandel, primarily because I've never met one that I like. This one was perhaps a bit more cut than most, the flavors more precise, but I still just don't get Zinfandel. Thomas ' house recently. That would be the theme.

Ridge Vineyards' first Advanced Tasting Program release of 2009 , from 48 barrels of 100% zinfandel planted in 1923 on the Dusi Ranch one mile east of Highway 101 in Paso Robles, this big, mouth coating zinfandel is loaded with ripe red fruit. Tags: ATP Central California 2006 1 star Ridge Vineyards

Aged zinfandel can be deep, velvety and utterly complex, if considerably less racy and brash than their younger siblings. The wines from Ridge Vineyard's Lytton Estate can age as well as, if not better than, many Rhone Ranger and cabernet based wines, and 1994 seems to have been a particularly good vintage across the board for California.

Last week I tried the 2006 vintage of this Zinfandel from California, and this '07 is almost as good. Winemaker's notes: As always the California Zinfandel is a challenging and rewarding wine to produce. Tags: California Zinfandel

Next up was my favorite, the Zinfandel Cline Sonoma California 2006. Tags: Cotes Du Rhone Piedmont Barbera Danny Brown Wine Bar Zinfandel Tonight at Danny Brown’s Wine Bar I had a wonderful Red Wine Glazed Scottish Salmon with French Lentils, Chorizo & Watercress paired with 3 red wines from the “Red Flight International”.

Jean California Merlot 2005 * This is by all accounts a good value and one worth picking up to host a dinner party, a wedding, a bar mitzavah, or the return of the prodigal son from his animal quest. Produced in much the same manner as the California Merlot from Chateau St. All of Ridge's zinfandels run from about $20-$35.

Lot 86, a 2006 Lodi Zinfandel from California: Nose: warm, wood, jammy on the sweet side of dry, juicy and chewy, also very nice. Lot 72, a 2005 Meritage from California: Nose: sweet, earthy aromas with a Bordeaux model. All were very good, my 2 standout favorites were the Spanish Tempranillo and the California Zinfandel

I have to admit I really haven't tried many Zinfandels, and enjoyed this one from the Russian River Valley. The color is a translucent dark ruby, and on the nose I'm getting warm, ripe red berries with violets and a hint of nutty oak. alcohol. Works very nicely with red meats or cheeses. Another good value from The Wine Room at $11.99.

It actually reminded me a bit of a California Zinfandel.  I went away (within Israel) for the sabbath to a friend of the family.  A wonderful woman and great cook it is always a nice shabbat when spent with her and her family.  following the recitation of kiddush at the conclusion of services, in which refreshments are served.

Alcohol Zin October 15, 2008 The New York Times wine panel liked the 2004 Gravity Hills Zinfandel. Given how prevalent alcohol adjustment is in California, I gotta ask; Reverse Osmosis? Alcohol Zin The New York Times wine panel liked the 2004 Gravity Hills Zinfandel. Asimov wrote, "This wine came in at 13.6 Water? Spinning Cone?

The Sangiovese & Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from California have been crushed, de-stemmed and had the yeast added.  We ended up picking up some Zinfandel that we were pretty excited about as well as some merlot that we were a little less excited about.  We were much happier with the Zinfandel than we were with the merlot. 

The 2006 Paso Robles * from Benito Dusi's Ranch, 100% zinfandel from old old vines, is actually a light bodied, mild-mannered 14.6% I've decided to list these two Ridge zins together, but they really couldn't be more diverse. alcohol (if such a thing exists) showing nicely ripe red fruit and not too much heat. It's deep.

Trinitas Cellars has multiple sources around Contra Costa County, California, with some of the best vines as much as 120 years old. The 2005 Old Vine Cuvee is made from 37% Mataro, 24% Zinfandel, 18% Carignan, 13% Petite Syrah and 8% Alicante Bouschet. This is an amazing deal for $18

and "California promotes wines that dont suck" Um.since when did fresh herbs become weird?! And millions of people think that California wines dont suck.but that certainly isnt an indication of greatness. Doesnt the fellow realize there would be no California wine without Europe? Now, what could make the fellow happier? Sheesh.

Making my way past the French wines I landed in the California section. But the lure of the reds grabbed me and it was the California reds and people I either knew or recognized who convinced me that white time was up. Zinfandels and 1 Syrah. But now, my long overdue summary of the wines I was able to try at the Polaner tasting.

April 12 for the Twenty-third California Futures Tasting at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, featuring wines from 48 producers' 2006 vintage, plus a number of additional samples. What is happening with California winemakers always drinking French wines behind the scenes? traveled down to Wasihngton D.C. French wines! Awesome.

In our present category you will find an atypical blend from Recanati - their Reserve Petite Sirah/Zinfandel blend. Dalton has some nice wines for about $30 including their Reserve Syrah or their Zinfandel which sold out in Israel. am not going to go into ALL kosher wines but I will discuss where my passion lay, Israeli wines.

The first is a Petit Sirah from California. Petit Sirah is a varietal I had initially understood to be a blending grape - one that could provide color, strength & structure to a blend (often with Zinfandel). Got a couple of interesting wine offer emails over the weekend. And two stood out, as they were priced to TRY.

Where does it come from and why is it so popular and plentiful in California and not so much everywhere else. Basically, What's up with Zinfandel? Zinfandel today has achieved a sort of cult wine status in the US. And then there is "White Zinfandel." Out there they set up camp in the Central Valley of California.

I've had wines made from Petite Sirah about four or five times, all quite a few years ago, and in my mind I lump them in with Zinfandel. Sonadora is our host this month at WannabeWino , and she has selected Petite Sirah as the theme. This is a grape that I know almost nothing about. Not cause I have something against it - I do not. Anyway.so

No, it was not from Argentina, Chile or California. By this point though Spanish missionaries had brought wine all the way into what is now California. And what really got me was that neither of them were your run-of-the-mill California stand by's. Not merlot, cabernet sauvignon or zinfandel. Mexico. Pretty cool stuff.

Who woulda thunk it - Brooklynguy, lover of all reds light and elegant, got down and danced with a huge famous California Zinfandel the other night, and came out none worse for the wear. He told me to keep an open mind, and said it was a Turley Zinfandel, the Juvenile wine. 2003 Turley Zinfandel Keig Vineyard , $ unknown.

[link] I go into a wine shop I often pass by the California, Washington and Oregon sections just because I am always on the lookout for some old school obscure grape that I have never heard of before. This post is about a California producer that is not readily available in the city but can be accessed online. And more often than not.or