Sunday, August 1, 2010

Just Want A Bottle Of Wine!

Good Things Come In Threes

7 Deadly Zins 2007 Zinfandel, $13.59, 85 points.
OZV (Oak Ridge Wine) 2005 Zinfandel, $16.00, 86 points.
Decoy 2008 Zinfandel, $19.00, 91 points.
See below for more information on these wines.

If you've been following my exploration into the wonderful world of Zinfandel wines, you probably have noticed that I try to avoid over-complex characteristics in the description of wine; The reasoning behind this is that some of it is imagination, some of it is for the most advanced wine-tasters, but my message here is the joy of exploring unencumbered wine tasting for someone who doesn't want to go through the technology of buying a bottle of wine, but just wants a hint and a suggestion or two (If you discover that the wines I like, you like too, then this blog is for you). If you want the wine notes, just go to the wine producer's web-site and click on on the appropriate link.
I have provided a link below for the Decoy 2008 Zinfandel.

OK, I do put my nose in an appropriate wine glass and take several quick whiffs, but what I'm looking for is the same thing one looks for when breathing-in the aroma of a rose, the pleasure of its beauty. If a wine competes with certain flowers for beauty, then so be it. As for Aroma (Less complex or simple fragrance)-Bouquet (Complex fragrances, multiple aromas) texture, flavors (Good Bad), finish (Long and memorable, Short and of minor note), color, these all play into the tapestry of what makes wine the most interesting libation.

Today's Zinfandel wines provide the partaker with some choices in intensity, from a highly intense 2007 7 Deadly Zins, just loaded with flavors, maybe just a bit unfocused, but at about $13.59, a very good buy. I often can tell a wine from the Lodi appellation, and this one was a bit over the top, but its richness and good finish contribute to its worthy reputation. I rate this wine 85.

Another Lodi Zinfandel, a bit more expensive ($16.00) and less available to New Hampshire wine drinkers, the OZV (Oak Ridge Wine) 2005 Zin. is true to its Lodi origins in a gentle and aromatic way that pleases the senses. OZV is a bit berry-like as a Merlot, easy to drink, but with a short finish. I scored this Zin. an 86, and not as good a value as the7 Deadly Zin.

The 2008 Decoy Zinfandel (Napa Valley) finishes my report, but oh, what a finish! I almost didn't bother with tasting this wine, because I had tried its sister wine, The Decoy Red and was disappointed, but the Zinfandel is another animal altogether. The aroma is gentle and lovely, deep red color, light (easy to drink) yet complex and rich enough to thwart any doubt that this is a serious Zin. Now I'm not trying to get weird about this wine, but it has floral hints that are great here, where in the White Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 and the Rutherford Hill Merlot 2004, were troublingly too intense. Having a long white pepper finish seals the deal. I rated this a 91, and at $19.99 a very good buy!
This wine, in some ways, reminds me of the Frog's leap Merlot and not the Frog's leap Zin, which some may find a bit crazy, but without the intensity of the Zin, the overall flavor and to a lesser degree the finish is reminiscent of the Decoy.

Decoy wines

Index-of-reviewed-wines

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