These old Zinfandels surprise me as they hold up very well. The cork was soft and crumbled a bit but I was able to pull it out in one piece using the Durand wine opener (this is a shout-out for Durand). I always use it when opening old wines. Back to the Zinfandel. It was a little dull at first, but got better as the evening passed, even some of the Zinfandel fruitiness showed. I used an aerator.
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Dried fruit, plum, leather, spices, and generally very ripe yet pretty flavors on the nose. Good acidity with sweet fruit, more plums, spices, underwood, fig, and dried fruit on the palate. Good finish. Quite a nice aged Zinfandel that's very ripe but reasonably balanced. Usually not a fan of this grape, but this was very nice.
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Purchased on release - Opened last bottle last night for a BBQ. Cork intact. On opening only got oak and old fruit. On palate there is definite density but some structure remains. I made the comment that I wished I had drunk this 20 yrs ago w hen the fruit was more lively. Somehow it didn’t get finished so I corked it and put it back in the cellar. Tonight it is a different animal. Soft fruit (although mature), not a rough edge and the oak has muted. Tremendous for a 30 yr old zin and perfect with the brisket,but still at release this had an amazing fruit density that I really enjoyed. Drink I think
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Nice! Airy nose is savory and herbal, nice dried fruit too. In a good spot, definitely in its plateau, maybe about to slide off, tannins are integrated and acidity is mellow.
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Mid mahogany. Plenty to the bouquet: dried cranberry, sweet red fruit, baked cherry pie shows the warmer vintage; followed by tertiary notes of fresh leather jacket, dried shiitake mushroom and miso soup. A dry entry - more so than expected- with sweet, sinewy texture, fabulous concentration and a long, winding finish. Plenty of interest with liquorice, cough syrup, red cherry pastilles and raspberry puree. In great shape, the mid-palate and back unfold with soy, raisin, black toffee, a slight tannin rub underneath, and this pureed cherry/raspberry combination—intriguing wine given its age, although would have no doubt sing more a few years back.
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6/7/2023 - Grangelady wrote: 90 Points
These old Zinfandels surprise me as they hold up very well. The cork was soft and crumbled a bit but I was able to pull it out in one piece using the Durand wine opener (this is a shout-out for Durand). I always use it when opening old wines. Back to the Zinfandel. It was a little dull at first, but got better as the evening passed, even some of the Zinfandel fruitiness showed. I used an aerator.
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10/9/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dried fruit, plum, leather, spices, and generally very ripe yet pretty flavors on the nose. Good acidity with sweet fruit, more plums, spices, underwood, fig, and dried fruit on the palate. Good finish. Quite a nice aged Zinfandel that's very ripe but reasonably balanced. Usually not a fan of this grape, but this was very nice.
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7/4/2022 - chcook Likes this wine:
Purchased on release - Opened last bottle last night for a BBQ. Cork intact. On opening only got oak and old fruit. On palate there is definite density but some structure remains. I made the comment that I wished I had drunk this 20 yrs ago w hen the fruit was more lively.
Somehow it didn’t get finished so I corked it and put it back in the cellar. Tonight it is a different animal. Soft fruit (although mature), not a rough edge and the oak has muted. Tremendous for a 30 yr old zin and perfect with the brisket,but still at release this had an amazing fruit density that I really enjoyed.
Drink I think
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7/3/2022 - viniferatu Likes this wine:
Nice! Airy nose is savory and herbal, nice dried fruit too. In a good spot, definitely in its plateau, maybe about to slide off, tannins are integrated and acidity is mellow.
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4/12/2020 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mid mahogany.
Plenty to the bouquet: dried cranberry, sweet red fruit, baked cherry pie shows the warmer vintage; followed by tertiary notes of fresh leather jacket, dried shiitake mushroom and miso soup.
A dry entry - more so than expected- with sweet, sinewy texture, fabulous concentration and a long, winding finish. Plenty of interest with liquorice, cough syrup, red cherry pastilles and raspberry puree. In great shape, the mid-palate and back unfold with soy, raisin, black toffee, a slight tannin rub underneath, and this pureed cherry/raspberry combination—intriguing wine given its age, although would have no doubt sing more a few years back.
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