Shane 2008 Syrah

Shane Judge Vineyard Bennett Valley 2008 Syrah, $36.54-$42.99, 92 points, is one of those Syrah wines from California I've been biting-at-the-bit to purchase, but I've waited patiently for the New Hampshire Liquor Store's 15% sale to do so. Not long ago I reviewed the 2007 Bonterra-vineyards-mendocino-county-Syrah, there I talked about finally finding an American Syrah that the Newbie wine taster would find appealing for its quality and price, but here we have an American Syrah that takes the Syrah experience a couple of notches beyond the Bonterra. Though on sale, the Shane is more than twice the price; if you want a greater sense of what a Syrah is about and want quality, and value, have a special occasion, or are willing to do what it takes to expand your wine knowledge (Syrah is capable of reflecting the earth in its aroma and on the palate), then I think you'll find this up to the task. Sorry for all this non-relevant info, but prefacing some posts seems important to me, and this is one of them.

Shane Judge Vineyard Bennett Valley 2008 Syrah, has a deep vibrant purple color that wells nearly black to the core, the aroma is vibrant too with cinnamon, clove, and a strong floral character. Vibrant acidity on a nearly full-body carries an herbal black currant flavor that is strongly back-lighted by mint, menthol and eucalyptus, and finishes very long on layers of those palate flavors and finally ends with white pepper and hints of tobasco .


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Ridge Paso Robles 2009 Zinfandel

Ridge Paso Robles 2009 Zinfandel, $25.49-$29.99, 91 points, has a bright and lovely magenta hue, the aroma is an amazing brown sugar-cinnamon, clove, and plum, the medium body carries gentle hints of black bramble fruit, but culminates in a long finish, though not overwhelmingly so, of white pepper with hints of cayenne. This is more of a quaffing wine than the Pagani Ranch and less complex, easier drinking, yet still delicious, and at a better buy, having a comparable QPR.
The Wine-maker rightly writes about the balanced sweetness/acidity, and recommends drinking the Paso Robles 2009 Zinfandel over the next five years.


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Ridge Pagani Ranch 2009 Zinfandel

Ridge Pagani Ranch 2009 Zinfandel, $30.59-$35.99, 93 points, is another fine Zinfandel wine by the winery that excels with this varietal, so much so that Ridge is saying that this wine will develop for fifteen years, and I believe them. In case you've noticed that this wine is 80% Zinfandel and you are not familiar with the 14% Alicante_Bouschet and if you care about that stuff, the link provided is quite interesting.
The 2009 Pagani Ranch begins with a deep ruby color with flashes of violet, the aroma is again a wonderfully weaved intricate blend of sweet cooking spice, cedar, blueberry, and some floral character, the mouth feel is rich and smooth, medium-bodied plus, with a bit more acidity and a firmer tannic presence than has been tasted recently. Flavors are layered and harmonious with plum, blueberry, and a smoky cherry, but having an unusual hint of tangerine late palate (That's a first for me with a red wine), and the finish is a whole component, it is very long, spring-boarding from the tangerine morphing into their traditional black and white pepper with hints of cayenne.


Though the price on sale was still a bit steep (A Cabernet this good could cost you as much as a $100.00), for Zinfandel lovers, this is the one, no, two or more to get, and whether you'll say "cheers" or "raise a class" or whatever, you'll thank me for steering your behind toward this gem.


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Four Vines Paso Robles "Biker" 2009 Zinfandel-Sextant Paso Robles "Wheelhouse" 2008 Zinfandel And HOBO Branham Vineyard Rockpile 2009 Zinfandel

The Three Amigos were at it again last night with three new Zinfandels. Once again the tasting was "blind" and the three of us all agreed on which was the "best" wine, but our descriptors ranged from my more mundane to Ben's quite interesting if warmly whimsical, and Ethan's almost bar-room interpretation as he used terms like "liquor finish and alcohol burn" to describe the Zins. All of these wines have a medium body and all are a robust, youthful ruby color, all had similar aromas of  strawberry, sweet spice, and hints of clove, but Ben picked-up a hint of juniper from the Sextant, and butternut squash/pepper steak from the "Biker". I found the HOBO to have hints of sweet-rum, while Ben sensed "Sharpy" on the nose.



Four Vines Paso Robles "Biker" 2009 Zinfandel, $21.25-$24.99, 92 points, is a quaffer. I liked it better than the 2008 vintage. The "Biker" is a beautifully balanced cherry-plum, licorice (Ethan was picking through the flavor layers and tasting basil), with an unnoticeable 14.8% alcohol. The finish is fair sweet spice (Ben had nailed it with ginger-94 points) and (Ethan had the finish lingering-92 points).


Sextant Paso Robles "Wheelhouse" 2008 Zinfandel, $15.29-$19.99, 89 points, is a high QPR Zinfandel with lots of quality and flavors of plum and cherry fruit with good acidity, but it is the "bold but delicate finish" Ben scored this Zin 87 points, "drastic burn finish" Ethan scored it 90 points, and my own sense of bourbon on the finish which stuck with us (14.9% alcohol listed on the bottle, though their web-site has it at 15.3% sextantwines.com2008-20Wheelhouse.pdf).


HOBO Branham  Vineyard Rockpile 2009 Zinfandel, $20.70-$31.00 (Bought at Hannaford's super market) but you could find this at Bella Vino as well), 90 points, is another excellent QPR wine.
Now for the "warm whimsical": spiced pair, raspberry truffle, and mid-palate Novocaine (Ben 85 points). Ethan, 88 points, found cranberry fruit and an imbalance of whiskey notes (14% alcohol).
I was a bit more sanguine about taking the HOBO train, finding gentle damson plum, cranberry, and strawberry along with a fine ginger-spice finish with slightly more tannin than the other two.


All in all, we had mucho gusto with these three Zinfandel wines; none of them disappointed and all paired nicely with a variety of foods provided. 

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Gamba Russian River Old Vine Moratto 2007 Zinfandel

Gamba Moratto Russian River Old Vine 2007 Zinfandel, $39.59-$43.99, 93 points, is another big Zinfandel wine, but unlike some big alcohol, rich textured, and fruit-forward Zinfandels, this one, with some air, is vibrantly layered with sharp cherry-plum, with licorice, and hot spices that carry well with the BIG 15.9% alcohol, but these are magnified on the long finish.
The color is deep purple, the aroma is bramble fruit with cedar hints, dried herbs and jalapeno pepper.
This wine competes with some big Cabernet Sauvignons, and though not as elegant as an  Isosceles, it boasts the power of a sophisticated punch. 





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Carol Shelton Wild Thing 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel

Carol Shelton Wild Thing 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel Mendocino County, $13.59-$24.99, 90 points, has a deep ruby-red color, a nice red berry aroma with mild cinnamon hints, a light to medium body that is juicy, but not syrupy. The flavor is a nice blend of red raspberry, plum, sweet strawberry with hints of cedar, and a fair finish of white pepper and a bit of heat from the 14.8% alcohol. 
Just in case you need some music to go with your Zinfandel, try this: The Troggs - Wild Thing


I bought "Wild Thing" at Bella Vino, but it is now at the NHLS, where I picked-up another 01/09/2012


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Mohua Marlborough 2010 Sauvignon Blanc

Mohua Marlborough 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, $10.00-$14.00, 91 points, is a very pale straw color, the aroma (cold 40 degrees) is fabulous white-grape with  floral  Lychee, which is  very lovely! 
The texture is slightly creamy with nearly singularly sweet white grapefruit on the palate, but with hints of pineapple on a long fine finish. As the Mohua Sauv-Blanc warmed some grassy notes evolved, but they are subdued. 
I paired this perfectly with batter-fried deep sea scallops.




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Just in case your interested in the winery's details (I found this interesting), here is their pdf., but give it a moment to download: Mohuavineyardbrands.pdf