Candor Non-Vintage Zinfandel, $14.99-$16.99, 86 points, is pomegranate to cranberry in color with a clear rim.
The aroma is cooking spice and black currant, just verging on vegetative.
A medium to plus body carries good acidity and just noticeable tannin, but the texture is a bit "muddy" and a dull prune flavor is relieved with some red cherry.
The finish is fair with some spice.
My opinion: there are better Zinfandels for that price.
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Ridge Paso Robles 2010 Zinfandel, $29.99, 92 points, has a dark ruby color, with Shiraz purple tones, almost opaque at the core with great clarity right to the clear rim.
The aroma is, as is customary with Ridge Zinfandel wines, wonderful, with earth (almost Rhone styled), restrained cooking spice, and cedar.
Nearly full bodied, this Zinfandel is round and lush, with sufficient acidity to cut through a heavily beefed chili. An acidity that continues with mild tannin all the way to the finish.
Ridge Paso Robles 2010 Zinfandel is early palate toasty, with developing juicy blackberry, grape, and plum.
The long finish adds black and white pepper to the trailing palate.
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I'm not a journalist, but just in case you missed this provocative 'study' on alcohol use and intelligence, which goes against everything I've learned about those who partake more and not less of the "brain damaging poison", then here's your chance to get back at the Nay-Sayers!
DscoveryNews-do-intelligent-people-drink-more-alcohol?
XYZIN 2008 California Zinfandel, $14.99, 88 points, was cranberry in color, the aroma was almost too robust.
The 14.3% alcohol set aflame the sweet cooking spice, cedar tones, and black pepper onto the palate snowballing deep into the warm finish.
The medium-plus body was smooth and carried bright acidity, mild tannin, and flavors of red cherry, mulberry, and plum.
These Zins have been great with pizzas (for example) and the Football games.
So far, these bottom-shelf Zinfandels have been remarkably consistent except for the outstanding Mazzocco Zin, and made for easy purchasing; buy what you're comfortable with and what's least expensive; the ladies in the super market have got this one down exactly right, but if you are looking for a special Zinfandel, you need to experiment or get some advice. Sorry, in NH you won't find the Mazzocco in the super market yet!
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Masked Rider 2007 California Zinfandel, $10.80-$14,58, 88 points (bought at Hannaford's super market), is ruby red tapering to cranberry with a clear rim.
The aroma is subtle, but very pleasant with cinnamon, clove, cedar, with hints of licorice.
This dry red wine has a medium-plus body with lip smacking acidity and moderate tannin which carries flavors of tart red cherry/cranberry almost effectively "green" (unripe fruit), with a touch of hibiscus.
A long finish of cayenne trails the tart palate.
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BlackStone WineMaker's Select 2008 Zinfandel, $10.19-$11.99, 87 points, appears cranberry red in color.
An interesting aroma of leather, earth, plum, and some vegetable quality combine to keep you guessing as to what varietal this wine is.
The medium-plus body carries fair acidity and mild tannin, along with flavors of red cherry, plum, and a hint of licorice.
The finish is truncated with just a hint of spice.
This is a competent wine, one that is versatile and inconspicuous; with a good QPR, I wouldn't shy away from having this as an accompaniment to football parties with pizzas and burgers, but don't expect exclamations either.
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Pacific Rim Columbia Valley 2010 Riesling,
$9.99-$11.99, 89 points, has a golden/lime color.
The aroma is an interesting sweet olive-oil and faint lilac, however Ethan was getting a complex Belgian waffle aroma; either way you should find it pleasant.
Having an off dry light body and sparkling acidity enhanced flavors of pear, apricot, and peach, all of which trailed the fair finish culminating with a tart light ginger.
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