Comments on: Zin…bad http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/ Deliciously Hedonistic Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:33:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Golly http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-1562 Golly Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:31:22 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-1562 Eeek, that sounds grim. I tend only to drink Zin's in the US, most wine tastes better close to its home. If I feel yearnings here I opt for an Italian Primitvo, pehaps not fabulous wines, but certainly much more quality for your Sterling than anything shipped from California. Eeek, that sounds grim. I tend only to drink Zin’s in the US, most wine tastes better close to its home. If I feel yearnings here I opt for an Italian Primitvo, pehaps not fabulous wines, but certainly much more quality for your Sterling than anything shipped from California.

]]> By: Confessions of a Wino » Blog Archive » Zin between http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-784 Confessions of a Wino » Blog Archive » Zin between Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:40:17 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-784 [...] You may recall the last time I tried a Zinfandel, it was awful. [...] [...] You may recall the last time I tried a Zinfandel, it was awful. [...]

]]> By: Ms. Q http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-441 Ms. Q Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:17:02 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-441 OOch! If I see "Lodi" and "old vine" when it comes to Zins, I generally like 'em. However, I do know what you mean by jammy. The Old Vine Zins are generally heavy and high alcohol and actually good for "beginner" wine drinkers in that they are on the sweet side, sometimes almost a dessert wine! The Ravenswood 2003 Lodi Zin won a double gold medal. I have their 2002 Sonoma County Zin - I think that got a good rating somewhere... I have tried a Rosenblum and it was super-charged on the alcohol rating and I didn't like it. Another county I like for Zins is Amador. Montevina winery produces some lovely and affordable reds - I love their Barbera. I still have some of their Amador Zins before that became their pricier vineyard. Now their lower-cost Zin is produced out of the Sierra Foothills I think it is. Yes, I am a California wine fan but I have heard about over-oaking. I wish I knew the Oregon wines better but feel like I'm just totally guessing. Oh, I've read that every state in the US produces a wine. If I can, I do try to get a local wine. Just to see. Michigan - PASS. Scary. Texas? I had a decent one. Can't recall what it was but it was decent. OOch! If I see “Lodi” and “old vine” when it comes to Zins, I generally like ‘em. However, I do know what you mean by jammy. The Old Vine Zins are generally heavy and high alcohol and actually good for “beginner” wine drinkers in that they are on the sweet side, sometimes almost a dessert wine!

The Ravenswood 2003 Lodi Zin won a double gold medal. I have their 2002 Sonoma County Zin - I think that got a good rating somewhere…

I have tried a Rosenblum and it was super-charged on the alcohol rating and I didn’t like it.

Another county I like for Zins is Amador. Montevina winery produces some lovely and affordable reds - I love their Barbera. I still have some of their Amador Zins before that became their pricier vineyard. Now their lower-cost Zin is produced out of the Sierra Foothills I think it is.

Yes, I am a California wine fan but I have heard about over-oaking. I wish I knew the Oregon wines better but feel like I’m just totally guessing.

Oh, I’ve read that every state in the US produces a wine. If I can, I do try to get a local wine. Just to see. Michigan - PASS. Scary. Texas? I had a decent one. Can’t recall what it was but it was decent.

]]> By: el jefe http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-435 el jefe Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:20:38 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-435 Persevere. Zinfandel has been a real challenge the past few years. Even Ridge has gone astray, but they seem to be coming back. Hopefully the fruity and peppery Zin I fell in love with years ago is returning. In the meantime, get ye some Tempranillo...:) Persevere. Zinfandel has been a real challenge the past few years. Even Ridge has gone astray, but they seem to be coming back. Hopefully the fruity and peppery Zin I fell in love with years ago is returning. In the meantime, get ye some Tempranillo…:)

]]> By: winebroad http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-434 winebroad Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:21:51 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-434 People just love that jam-o-rama Zin thing here in California, but it's just too much for me most of the time. (Try going to the annual ZAP tasting: 3 pavilions of nothing but Zin at 15%-plus alcohol!) I wouldn't bother with the Rosenblum--yes, it's highly rated and well loved by many, but it's also the epitome of that blockbuster jammy style you loathe. (Nice for dessert, but not so great otherwise.) It's damned difficult to find a more reserved style of Zin, but I'd start with Ridge. People just love that jam-o-rama Zin thing here in California, but it’s just too much for me most of the time. (Try going to the annual ZAP tasting: 3 pavilions of nothing but Zin at 15%-plus alcohol!) I wouldn’t bother with the Rosenblum–yes, it’s highly rated and well loved by many, but it’s also the epitome of that blockbuster jammy style you loathe. (Nice for dessert, but not so great otherwise.) It’s damned difficult to find a more reserved style of Zin, but I’d start with Ridge.

]]> By: Alastair Bathgate http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Alastair Bathgate Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:45:09 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-433 Thanks Joel I was hoping to provoke a suggestion or two of where to find a good CA Zin (available in the UK of course.....) Thanks Joel
I was hoping to provoke a suggestion or two of where to find a good CA Zin (available in the UK of course…..)

]]> By: Joel http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-432 Joel Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:31:38 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-432 You're going to take Ravenswood and hold it up as an example of a good CA Zin? RW hasn't made a good Zin in about 5+ years. I think even if it travelled well you may not be too excited. Another big brand that may be over there is Rosenblum. They specialize in Zin and a couple of specific vineyard are really outstanding (some are just way too hot). a few years ago I would say "get Rosenblum, its the gold standard", but they've since scaled they're operation up to many thousands of cases so you need to watch the vineyard. You’re going to take Ravenswood and hold it up as an example of a good CA Zin? RW hasn’t made a good Zin in about 5+ years. I think even if it travelled well you may not be too excited. Another big brand that may be over there is Rosenblum. They specialize in Zin and a couple of specific vineyard are really outstanding (some are just way too hot). a few years ago I would say “get Rosenblum, its the gold standard”, but they’ve since scaled they’re operation up to many thousands of cases so you need to watch the vineyard.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-431 Anonymous Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:39:36 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-431 <strong>Zin.....bad...</strong> Bathgate takes a jab at California's lauded grape!... Zin…..bad…

Bathgate takes a jab at California’s lauded grape!…

]]> By: Stacy Nelson http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/comment-page-1/#comment-430 Stacy Nelson Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:17:23 +0000 http://www.alastairbathgate.com/2007/08/20/zinbad/#comment-430 I'm so proud of you. Too bad about that big oak. That really is one of the things I dislike most about our California wines. Seems that the more oak the better which is, well, YUCK!. Keep going though. A good Zin should be jammy with a spicy finish, not a log in your teeth. I am proud of our Zinfandels but like anything, not all are created equal. It's going to be difficult for you to find anything because we do drink it all here. It's a secret pact that keeps the rest of the world in an ignorant bliss.... I’m so proud of you. Too bad about that big oak. That really is one of the things I dislike most about our California wines. Seems that the more oak the better which is, well, YUCK!.

Keep going though. A good Zin should be jammy with a spicy finish, not a log in your teeth. I am proud of our Zinfandels but like anything, not all are created equal. It’s going to be difficult for you to find anything because we do drink it all here. It’s a secret pact that keeps the rest of the world in an ignorant bliss….

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