Celebrating National Zinfandel Day, November 16, 2022
In 1974 or 1975, I wandered into Crane & Kelly Wine and Cheese Center on Union Street in San Francisco. I started my wine career a few years earlier and was still wet behind the ears. Dave Crane, the seasoned pro, and Elaine McIntosh, who became my very good friend, were featuring the newly released 1972 Ridge Vineyards. I tasted six Ridge wines that day including the Geyserville Zinfandel, and that was the come-to-Jesus wine that inspired me.
ZinEX Tasting at The Palace Hotel, March 27, 2022, San Francisco, CA
The incredible 2020 Ridge Geyserville
I purchased Ridge wines for Ashbury Market a year later—the 1973s: Coast Range, Lytton Springs, Geyserville, Occidental, Late Harvest Occidental (Zinfandels) as well as the 1973 York Creek Petite Sirah. Those wines aged well through the years. Speed dial to 2022; here are 10 Zinfandels I tasted that stood out. I dutifully stayed on my zin track from the ZAP Experience Tasting on March 27 to August 15. As usual, the list is alphabetical.
· BACA Cat’s Cradle Zinfandel, Rockpile 2018. Vintner Jennifer Brown states “We are high quality without the pretense, carefully crafted but also playful. BACA celebrates creativity, drives exploration, and inspires discovery. Life is an adventure, here’s to those who drink it up!” I recently learned about BACA, and I am pleased with the wines. This wine brings blackberries and earth to the fore and offers pleasing textures on the palate. Try it with gruyere-topped, grilled hamburgers. (My Score: 91 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $45
· Bonterra Zinfandel, California 2019. Made with organic grapes, this is a softer style of wine and perfect for everyday drinking with family, friends, and neighbors. Excellent weight on the palate, with pleasing ease; delivers bright berries; serve it with fried chicken. (My Score: 91 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $16
· Enkidu Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2019. Enkidu, a winery to watch, produces handcrafted wines from growers who farm conscientiously. This wine is alive and jazzy on the palate, loaded with bright berries; pair it with grilled chicken thighs. (My Score: 91 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $31
· Keenan Zinfandel, Napa Valley 2018. I have followed this winery for decades enjoying their Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons. This wine is rock solid with black fruits, berries, and light spice. Enjoy its rich palate with a savory lamb stew. (My Score: 90 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $44
· Mettler Family Vineyards Epicenter Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi 2019. Mettler Family Vineyards is one of my favorite Lodi wineries. The wines are flavorful, balanced, and stylish. This wine is packed on the palate; offers bold blackberries and a good amount of oak. Pair it with grilled baby back ribs. (My Score: 92 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $25
· Quivira Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2019. I have enjoyed Quivira wines from the beginning, two decades ago. This wine is bright and stylish, with bright red berries, on the jazzy side, and soft tannins in the finish. Pair it with lightly spiced sliders. (My Score: 91 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $28
· Ridge Geyserville, Red Blend, Alexander Valley 2020. Ever since I tasted the 1972 vintage when it was released, this wine has remained in a special place in my notebooks. I have tasted nearly every vintage of this wine, and it continues to get even better. Initially, I favored the winery’s Lytton Springs, but this wine has surpassed the “LS” in the last few vintages. The 2020 vintage, a blend of 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, and 1% Mataro, shows an incredible mix of berries and mineral notes: long and fine with an al dente bite in the finish. Serve it with grilled lamb kebabs. (My Score: 97 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $50
· Rock Wall Wine Company Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Alegria Vineyard 2017. I tasted this wine in late January before the winery closed on February 27, 2022. Owner/proprietor Shauna Rosenblum produced some of the state’s best Zinfandels on her label. This wine explodes with outstanding notes of berries, licorice, pomegranate, and other fruits. Enjoy this expansive wine with a rosemary and garlic-infused, roast leg of lamb. (My Score: 93 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $45
· St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2018. Over the years, this wine has been one of my go-to Zins, and it is always an excellent value. This wine shows power with finesse, enticing blackberries, and hints of licorice. Pair it with pan-fried, grassfed hamburgers. (My Score: 91 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $20
· William Selyem Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Papera Vineyard 2020. I will always remember buying these wines under the Hacienda del Rio label and meeting Ed Selyem in 1986. While known for its excellent Pinot Noirs, this winery has consistently produced top Zinfandels. This wine is extracted yet finely structured; bright red and black fruit flavors stay long on the palate and into the wine’s lively finish. Pair it with lamb kebabs topped with fresh rosemary. (My Score: 93 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $95
Over the last five decades (the length of my career), Zinfandel has undergone some changes. Yet the essence of Zin remains constant. Lots of berries, a rich and extended palate, and sometimes high alcohol, but the crème de la crème shows balance, style, and refinement. If you haven’t explored recently, this may be the time to re-introduce yourself to the pleasure of Zin!
https://www.mettlerwine.com/
The Impressive 2019 Mettler Family Vineyards Epicenter Old Vine Zinfandel
