Reviews & Ratings

2009 Santa Barbara Winery Red Blends or Varietals "ZCS"

Winery: Santa Barbara Winery

Vintage: 2009

Wine Name/Vineyard: "ZCS"

Wine Category: Red Blends or Varietals

Grape blend: 70% Zinfandel, 21% Carignane, & 9% Sangiovese

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: California

State or country: CA

Price: $13

Cases produced: 4,408

KWG Score: 87 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good (88)

Review date: May 3, 2011

Wine Review: If you are looking for a bargain everyday red, consider this one from Santa Barbara Winery. It is dark ruby colored and opens with a fragrant black cherry bouquet with a hint of craisin and vanilla. On the palate, this wine is light to medium bodied, balanced, and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a blend of light black currant with a hint of cranberry and gentle oak. The finish is dry and its mild tannins are friendly. This enjoyable red blend would pair perfectly with a pulled pork sandwich. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Our first ZCS was created in 1998 when Winemaker Bruce McGuire called the staff together to taste red wine blends centered around a Zinfandel from vines that were more than 40 years old. Everyone's favorite was a blend of that Zinfandel with a Carignane and a Sangiovese. In this synergistic blend, the Zinfandel from 50 year old vines lends the jammy fruit quality to the wine, the Carignane adds density and finish, and the Sangiovese shows off cherry aromatics and flavors. Bruce purchased all of the fruit for this vintage from Wild Rose Vineyard in Lodi, which farms to his standards. A small crop and excellent Zinfandel crop led to intense concentration and full flavors in the finished wine.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Santa Barbara Winery 2009 ZCS.