Drank surprising well, enjoyed one glass on Friday, and finished the bottle last night three days later (vacuum corked kept in the fridge) held up very well, in a nice place right now!!
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Interesting to taste this wine again after 7 years. I saw this in a wine shop for $25, and snagged it up so quickly, because I love how Grgich wines age. This one showed a nose of tangy cherries, red plums, along with smoky tobacco, pine tar and violets. On the palate, this has velvety tannins and moderate acidity. The fruit seemed a bit muted at first, but it got more expressive with air (I think this bottle may have minor heat damage, as it was not aged in great conditions, still, it's showing quite well given those circumstances). Flavors of mulled cranberries, plum sauce, baked apples, mixed in with pepper, tobacco, soy, pine tar and violets. Silky, still showing freshness, with aged notes of library dust, nut shells and dried violet petals. Quite impressive to hold up like this.
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Robe bourgogne évoluée. Vin assez simple avec beaucoup de fruits et un peu de boisés. Décanté 1h30. Astringence fondue, long en bouche et peu complexe pour le prix.
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Un des meilleurs Zinfandel que j'ai bu. Au nez, on pouvait percevoir des fruits avec une senteur poivré. En bouche c'était un peu boisé avec une belle acidité. Une finale assez longue suivait en terminant. Très bien.
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Green and disjointed, very hot at first but calmed down after a while in the decanter. It stood a little better with food than on its own. Dark pepper with a medium plus finish. I would expect more from an estate grown Napa zin.
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Think this needs more time. Lots of prune on the palate at first, overwhelming. After a few hrs of air more dark fruit, blueberries, smoother. Hold for a few years, no score.
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Bright dark Ruby colored, medium-full bodied, zesty brambly flavorful black and dark red berry fruits with tones of vanilla and hints of pepper and smoky creosote on the finish ... begs for some some bar-b-que ribs.
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1 of 6 and one day off the truck from the vineyard, so likely to have been stored optimally. Tasted and then decanted/drank for 1.5 hrs. Light color and a bit closed on the open. Very fruit forward and improved slightly as it sat but fairly consistent throughout. I like bigger zins than this but it is refined enough to pull it off -- that said, there's better out there if you pay full price (which I didn't).
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Tight on the pop n pour, decanted for about 30 minutes. Medium to full body. Tight flavors of blackberry and some spice. Long finish with dry gripping tannins.
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Trying not to be such a euro snob. I know zin is our heritage. To be fair I rarely drink zin. This one is definitely good for a mass production wine and the price isn't awful. The nose is heaven. The color is surprisingly light. Palate is all strawberries and blood orange and raspberries. But the heat is overwhelming. At 15.5% of course. I know zin has a high natural alc to avoid greenness but yikes. Not sure if time will fix that.
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Purplish. Aromas of leather, strawberry, maybe raspberry. Tastes of strawberry, but the acidity runs high, making me think of vinegar. However, by the second day, the acidity is tamed, and the fruit flavors take on a bit more richness. However, this does not conform to my usual view of Zin - not high in spiciness or heat from high alcohol.
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Blind Tasting - California Reds: Bright medium ruby color. On the nose, I get a whole lot: smoke and charcoal, vanilla and earth, black currant jam, paved street and asphalt, some pepper. Full and glycerin-like on the palate, with black currants and prune fruit. Lots of secondary flavors: earth and iron and mineral, bell pepper and black pepper, asphalt and rocks. Delicious and complex stuff, but I bet this could benefit from a year or two in the cellar.
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Bright red in color. 15.5% ABV. 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah from the 34 acre estate vineyard in Calistoga. Red fruits, tar, iron and pepper on the nose. Full bodied and supple with nice acidity. Strawberry, raspberry, peppercorn, vanilla and plum flavors on the palate. The finish is long and creamy. The wine will continue to improve with time in the cellar. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
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10/26/2021 - Alfaro wrote: 91 Points
Drank surprising well, enjoyed one glass on Friday, and finished the bottle last night three days later (vacuum corked kept in the fridge) held up very well, in a nice place right now!!
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7/6/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
Interesting to taste this wine again after 7 years. I saw this in a wine shop for $25, and snagged it up so quickly, because I love how Grgich wines age. This one showed a nose of tangy cherries, red plums, along with smoky tobacco, pine tar and violets. On the palate, this has velvety tannins and moderate acidity. The fruit seemed a bit muted at first, but it got more expressive with air (I think this bottle may have minor heat damage, as it was not aged in great conditions, still, it's showing quite well given those circumstances). Flavors of mulled cranberries, plum sauce, baked apples, mixed in with pepper, tobacco, soy, pine tar and violets. Silky, still showing freshness, with aged notes of library dust, nut shells and dried violet petals. Quite impressive to hold up like this.
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3/30/2019 - flussier wrote: 88 Points
Robe bourgogne évoluée. Vin assez simple avec beaucoup de fruits et un peu de boisés. Décanté 1h30. Astringence fondue, long en bouche et peu complexe pour le prix.
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12/5/2018 - ti_ric Likes this wine: 92 Points
Un des meilleurs Zinfandel que j'ai bu. Au nez, on pouvait percevoir des fruits avec une senteur poivré. En bouche c'était un peu boisé avec une belle acidité. Une finale assez longue suivait en terminant. Très bien.
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4/15/2017 - Bob23 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Oddly peppery, almost Syrah-like. I wasn't a fan.
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11/24/2016 - Philshea Likes this wine: 100 Points
A little oak, butter, yet fruity.
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6/18/2015 - Margaux Bro Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Green and disjointed, very hot at first but calmed down after a while in the decanter. It stood a little better with food than on its own. Dark pepper with a medium plus finish. I would expect more from an estate grown Napa zin.
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6/6/2015 - njAndrew wrote:
Think this needs more time. Lots of prune on the palate at first, overwhelming. After a few hrs of air more dark fruit, blueberries, smoother. Hold for a few years, no score.
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5/25/2015 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
Bright dark Ruby colored, medium-full bodied, zesty brambly flavorful black and dark red berry fruits with tones of vanilla and hints of pepper and smoky creosote on the finish ... begs for some some bar-b-que ribs.
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4/1/2015 - Bricks wrote: 88 Points
1 of 6 and one day off the truck from the vineyard, so likely to have been stored optimally. Tasted and then decanted/drank for 1.5 hrs. Light color and a bit closed on the open. Very fruit forward and improved slightly as it sat but fairly consistent throughout. I like bigger zins than this but it is refined enough to pull it off -- that said, there's better out there if you pay full price (which I didn't).
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3/29/2015 - TrueLoker Likes this wine: 89 Points
perfect nose with sweet black berries. not bad balance
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2/2/2015 - ecola Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tight on the pop n pour, decanted for about 30 minutes. Medium to full body. Tight flavors of blackberry and some spice. Long finish with dry gripping tannins.
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11/25/2014 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 87 Points
Trying not to be such a euro snob. I know zin is our heritage. To be fair I rarely drink zin. This one is definitely good for a mass production wine and the price isn't awful. The nose is heaven. The color is surprisingly light. Palate is all strawberries and blood orange and raspberries. But the heat is overwhelming. At 15.5% of course. I know zin has a high natural alc to avoid greenness but yikes. Not sure if time will fix that.
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3/30/2014 - azwino wrote: 88 Points
Purplish. Aromas of leather, strawberry, maybe raspberry. Tastes of strawberry, but the acidity runs high, making me think of vinegar. However, by the second day, the acidity is tamed, and the fruit flavors take on a bit more richness. However, this does not conform to my usual view of Zin - not high in spiciness or heat from high alcohol.
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12/19/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
Blind Tasting - California Reds: Bright medium ruby color. On the nose, I get a whole lot: smoke and charcoal, vanilla and earth, black currant jam, paved street and asphalt, some pepper. Full and glycerin-like on the palate, with black currants and prune fruit. Lots of secondary flavors: earth and iron and mineral, bell pepper and black pepper, asphalt and rocks. Delicious and complex stuff, but I bet this could benefit from a year or two in the cellar.
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12/2/2013 - tomlee wrote: 91 Points
Bright red in color. 15.5% ABV. 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah from the 34 acre estate vineyard in Calistoga. Red fruits, tar, iron and pepper on the nose. Full bodied and supple with nice acidity. Strawberry, raspberry, peppercorn, vanilla and plum flavors on the palate. The finish is long and creamy. The wine will continue to improve with time in the cellar. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
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