Eventually, the rain will stop and the sun will come out here in the Northeast. When it does, it will be barbecue season and time to fire up the grill. Many readers will then shift over to whites when the heat comes to town. However, those of us that are red diehards will want something more substantial with our messy rack of ribs and steak tips. For those readers, I present you with a fine list of Zinfandels and Zin blends. What readers will quickly discover is that the best Zins that scored 90 points or more, tend to cost more than $20 per bottle. There is one exception and I will point that out below. If you are looking for nice Zins under $20, we have a few that scored Very Good scores in the high 80’s and we will highlight them as well.
We start with two 93 point wines. Our first Zinfandel comes from Carol Shelton. She is no stranger to being one of the top Zinfandel producers.  The 2007 “Rocky Reserve” Zinfandel from the Florence Vineyard in Rockpile has taken top honors. For $33 this Zin is a steal and turned out to be the best Zin that I tried this year. It is full-bodied, nicely balanced, and fruit forward with delicious lush and ripe blackberry flavors. It also displayed notes of boysenberry and a dash of black pepper and anise. It finishes well with its wonderful fruit flavors shining through with almost no tannin at all. This is a very nice drinking Zin to enjoy on the porch this summer on a cool evening with friends.
Our next wine is a dessert wine that I normally would cover in a month or two. However, Zin lovers do like their late harvest wines and this one is consistently one of the best in its class and worth noting in this report. The 2007 Four Vines “Zin Port” from Paso Robles is very very impressive! It opens with an intense black cherry and boysenberry bouquet. On the palate, it is full-bodied, balanced, smooth, and rich with extracted and ripe black raspberry and boysenberry flavors with a good dose of black pepper. The finish remains rich, yet shows nice elegance for a port wine. It would be perfect with dark chocolate covered strawberries after a romantic dinner at your favorite lake side restaurant this summer.
Our four 92 pointers start off with a pair from Ravenswood. Their single vineyard offerings consistently finish in our top 10 Zins each vintage. This year, two of them achieved top 5 status. The 2008 “Teldeschi” Zinfandel from the Dry Creek Valley for $35 is the first one we will highlight. This offering is made from 75% Zinfandel, along with 20% Petite Sirah and the rest Carignane and Alicante Bouschet. This Zin blend is full-bodied and very smooth. Its flavor profile is a tasty mild black cherry with notes of gentle oak. This offering would be perfect with a ribeye from off the grill. Our second Ravenswood to highlight here is the 2008 “Barricia” Zinfandel from Sonoma Valley. This is also $35 and is a blend. This wine is made from 76% Zinfandel and 24% Petite Sirah. This wine is medium to full-bodied and very fruit forward. I found it to be very complex with a great number of flavors. The primary flavor is ripe blackberry. We also detected some integrated oak, plum, cherry and licorice. I think this Zin would be perfect with barbecue steak tips grilled while camping on the Lake George Islands this summer.
This next Zin will get mentioned twice in this report. The 2008 finished with 92 points and the newly released 2009 finished with 91 points and will be covered below. The Dutton Goldfield 2008 “Morelli Lane Vineyard” Zinfandel for $40 is quite impressive. It is medium-bodied, well balanced, and rather savory. I loved its very tasty black raspberry flavors with notes of spice, black pepper, and a hint of blueberry. It finishes with very fine tannins that are well controlled. They make this Zin very food-friendly and they paired quite well with my Cousin Keith’s delicious steak tips.
This final 92 point Zin comes from a producer who is new to Ken’s Wine Guide. The 2008 V Sattui “Gilsson Vineyard” Zinfandel for $36 makes a very good first impression. This Zin opens with an attractive blueberry and blackberry bouquet. On the palate, it is full-bodied, well balanced, and very rich. I really enjoyed its very tasty ripe blackberry flavors with notes of boysenberry. The finish is dry and its lush fruit flavors and touch of oak linger for quite sometime after the wine is gone. Serve this gem with braised short ribs and enjoy!
The next 9 wines were each awarded 91 points. The first two should be considered relative bargains given their quality to price ratio. Our first Zin achieved a tie for top honors in our Big Blind tasting. It gets more love than the Peachy Canyon (highlighted below) because of its attractive $24 price point. What is this special Zin? It is the 2008 Girard “Old Vine” Zinfandel. It is medium-bodied, well balanced, and quite smooth. Its flavor profile is a delicious spicy blueberry and boysenberry blend with nicely integrated oak and a touch of dark chocolate. This is a top shelf Zin that the panel would pair well with a filet mignon or duck breast with a cherry reduction sauce.
The 2008 Four Vines “Biker” Zinfandel for $25 has been on the market for a while. When I covered it a a charity tasting, it was so popular that tasters were hoarding the bottles at their tables so they would be sure to get a second glass. Enough said! It is medium-bodied, very well balanced, juicy, and savory with very tasty red currant flavors with hints of black raspberry and a dash of black pepper. Its moderate tannins stick around nicely and make it a nice pairing with barbecue steak tips.
Next up is the Ravenswood’s 2008 “Big River” Zinfandel for $35 is from the Alexander Valley. This is the 5th year in a row that I have recommended this wine. It is consistently Very Good and one of my personal favorites. It is medium-bodied, soft, and smooth. I loved its very tasty blueberry flavors with notes of juicy boysenberry and hint of oak. It is easy going and you can drink it all summer long with your favorite grilled meats.
Next up is a wine I had to try. When you mix 17% Petit Verdot with Zinfandel, it is a “must try” blend I had to seek out. I was handsomely rewarded and you will be too if you can get a bottle of this gem. The 2008 Parajaxx Blackjack Duck for $30 was a hit at with a mini-tasting group that was assembled to try it. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and fruit forward with ripe blackberry flavors with notes of black pepper, blueberry, and black licorice. This crowd pleaser will certainly impress your friends and will also go well with barbecue steak tips.
I found the  Dendor Patton “Wisdom” to be very nice each time I have tried it. The 2007 vintage is blend 92.5 % Zinfandel and 7.5% Petite Sirah. It is well balanced, smooth and displays tasty blueberry and black cherry flavors. Like many wines from the 2007 vintage, it very food-friendly and would pair well with Theresa's meatloaf. If you want to try this one you should seek it out soon. Only 200 cases were made.
Lighter than the 2008 vintage, the 2009 Dutton Goldfield “Morelli Lane” Zinfandel for $40 is still a top notch Zin. This version is light to medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and smooth. Its flavor profile is a gentle black cherry with a hint of raspberry and light oak. It is finishes with very well managed fine tannins are very easy going and elegant. This offering is a contrast to many of the fruit bombs in this report. Pick up this one up if you are looking for an elegant Zin to go with a butterflied filet mignon with Hollandaise sauce.
This next Zin blend has developed a bit of a cult following amongst my tasting panel. The 2009 Orin Swift “Prisoner” from the Napa Valley definitely delivered and matched its hype with substance. This year the blend is full-bodied, balanced, and savory. Its flavor profile is a tasty blend of black raspberry and plum with notes of black pepper and hint of cherry vanilla. Its building gentle dusty tannins are a little sticky. The panel suggested pairing this blend with garlic pork roast, venison or buffalo burgers.
Four Vine’s second 91 pointer is the 2008 “Martinelli” Zinfandel from Paso Robles. This offering costs $35 and there were only 400 cases made. However, it is certainly worth seeking out. On the palate, this Zin is medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and fruit forward with very tasty red raspberry flavors. I also detected notes of blueberry, plum, and nicely integrated gentle oak. Its fruit flavors continue to linger for a while after the wine is gone. You will need to order this gem directly from the winery. When it arrives, serve it with veal parmigianna.
The 2008 Peachy Canyon “Especial” returned to the winners circle for the second vintage in a row. This wine tied for first place in our Big Blind tasting. Only its $40 price tag is the reason it is at this point on the list. Several panelists stated that this was classic Zin. It is medium-bodied, savory, fruit forward and shows nice intensity. Its flavor profile is a spicy red raspberry with notes of black pepper and blackberry. It finishes dry, tingly and a tad sticky. The panel suggested pairing this impressive Zin with a nice thick cut of prime rib.
Carol Shelton’s second best Zin offering this year is the 2006 “Bacchus Laureate” Zinfandel for $52. This offering opens with an attractive black cherry bouquet with hints of blueberry and vanilla. It really draws you in. On the palate, this wine is medium-bodied, fruit forward, and rich with ripe boysenberry and black currant flavors. My closing note is that this is a Very Good Zin to sip and just drink on its own.
For the 90 pointers and some of the high eighty point Zins, I am only going to highlight the best values. We start with the 2006 Renwood “Old Vine” Zinfandel for $17. This wine is well balanced, smooth and drinking real well right now. You will love this wine with a messy rack of ribs. You might even catch it on close-out. If you do find it, buy a case.
The “Sophisticate” from Four Vines is always a crowd pleaser and the 2008 continues that trend as the panel awarded it with 90 points. This Zin costs $25and it is well worth the investment. Like the Renwood, it is well balanced and smooth. The panel really enjoyed its tasty ripe black raspberry and cherry flavors with notes of oak, chocolate, and black pepper. They suggested pairing this gem with braised barbecue short ribs.
The other 90 pointers
3. Dutton Goldfield 2008 Zin “Stoetz Ridge Vineyard” (Russian River Valley, CA) $30
4. Carol Shelton 2007 Zin “Karma Zin Rue Vineyard” (Russian River Valley, CA) $33
5. Paraduxx 2008 US Red “Blue Wing Teal”(Napa Valley, CA) $48
The 89 pointers are headlined by three Zins that should be easy to find and are consistently Very Good every year. The 2008 Peachy Canyon “Westside” Zinfandelfrom Paso Robles for $19 opens with very fragrant ripe black raspberry jam bouquet. Its very ripe blackberry flavors make this Zin bomb a perfect match for grilled barbecue steak tips.
The 2008 Dashe Cellars “Dry Creek Valley” Zinfandel costs $20. It is a fruit-forward and savory with an emphasis on ripe blackberry flavors. This Zin displays some sticky moderate tannins that make it a match for Jim ‘N Nick’s tasty baby back ribs.
The last highlighted 89 pointer is the Four Vines 2008 “Maverick” Zinfandel for $20. This Amador County Zin should be easy to find and has shown well for the last couple of vintages. This year’s version is medium-bodied, well balanced, and silky on the palate. It features blueberry flavors with a hint of boysenberry and white pepper. Its grippy fine tannins stick around for a bit and make it a nice match for homemade meatloaf.
The other 89 pointers
4. Alexander Valley Vineyards 2007Â “Redemption Zin” (Dry Creek Valley, CA)Â $20
5. Earthquake 2008 Zin(Lodi, CA)Â $26
6. D-Cubed 2007 Zin “Napa Valley” (CA) $27
7. Dashe 2008 Zin “Florence Vineyard” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $32
8. Renwood 2007 Zin “Grandpere”(Amador County, CA) $35
9. Ravenswood 2008 Zin “Dickerson”(Napa Valley, CA) $35
At the 88 point level, I want to highlight four Zins that are value priced at less than $20. The first is the 2008 Pedroncelli “Mother Clone” Zinfandel for $15. At 6,000 cases this Dry Creek Valley Zin should be very easy to find. It is juicy and fruit forward with pleasant mild oak-infused black raspberry flavors. It finishes quite dry and its moderate tannins are rather sticky. Pair it with cherry amaretto steak tips or juicy Angus burgers.
The 2008 Layer Cake “Primitivo” for $13 is from Puglia, Italy is unique and provides very nice quality for the money. It is fruit-forward with ripe blackberry flavors with a hint of peppermint and black cherry. It is an ideal wine to pair with Ragu Bolognese.
The 2008 EOS “Paso Robles” Zinfandel for $15 is another juicy and fruit forward option for you to consider. This one displays ripe raspberry flavors with notes of black cherry, oak and a touch of pepper and rhubarb. It closes with moderate tannins that are rather sticky and linger for quite sometime. It would match nicely with a tangy pulled pork sandwich.
Our last value 88 point is the 2008 Dry Creek Vineyard “Heritage” Zinfandel for $19. You see this wine quite a bit as a pub glass pour. That is because it is light to medium-bodied, balanced, and very easy going in the mouth. However, it does finish with big and sticky tannins that sneak up on you a bit. So you need a little fat to make a perfect match. Try it with a thick cut of prime rib.
The Other 88 Pointers
5. Quivira 2008 Zin “DCV” (CA) $20 (Organic)
6. Alexander Valley Vineyards 2008Â “Sin Zin” (Alex Valley, CA) $20
7. Carol Shelton 2007 Zin “Wild Thing Cox Vineyard” (Mendocino, CA) $24
8. Truchard 2008 Zin “Carneros” (CA) $25
9. Peju 2007 Zin “Napa Valley” (CA) $28
10. Renwood 2007 Zin “Grandmere” (Amador County, CA) $30
11. D-Cubed 2007 Zin “Korte Ranch” (St. Helena, CA) $32
12. Four Vines 2008 Zin “Dusi Vineyard”(Paso Robles, CA) $35
13. Hartford 2008 Zin “Russian River Valley” (CA) $35
14. Peachy Canyon 2008 Zin “The Vortex”(Paso Robles, CA) $36
15. Hunnicutt 2008 Zin “Napa Valley” (CA) $36
16. D-Cubed 2007 Zin “Howell Mountain” (CA) $37
Our best 87 pointer is also a great deal. It would be a perfect everyday red. It is from Santa Barbara Winery. The 2009 “ZCS” is made from 70% Zinfandel, 21% Carignane, and 9% Sangiovese. This unusual blend is a steal at $13. It is fruit-forward and displays a light black currant flavor with a hint of cranberry and gentle oak. It would pair perfectly with a pulled pork sandwich.
1. Peachy Canyon 2008 Zin “Incredible Red” (Central Coast, CA) (Good 86 pts) $12
We hope you have as much fun with these Zinfandels as we did. So when you stoke up the grill this summer, be sure to open a bottle of Zin with all those barbecued grilled meats. Please be sure to comment on your favorites. We look forward to you sharing your thoughts with the group.
Cheers – Ken