2005 & 2008 Ravenswood Zinfandel Wines Remarkably Different

In the movie Sideways, Maya is waxing philosophical saying that a bottle of wine is going to" taste differently on any given day" (Don't you wish your palate was that attuned?); well, if that is true for a single bottle of wine, just imagine different vintages?
How many times we've seen a vintage of a particular wine in the top ten of a nationally recognized contest, only to see that it did not even make "Honorable mention" the next year?



Vintner's Blend-Ravenswood did not fare well in my wine tasting some time ago, but since, in some sense, over 80% of wine drinkers decide to buy their wine BY BRAND, I thought it would be interesting to try two of the same wines together, separated only by year. Of course this is elementary stuff, but for a newbie like me, it's new ground and another beginning in my experience of wine tasting.

Ravenswood Napa Valley 2005 Zinfandel, $15.99, 86 points, magenta in color, grape nose, and can be described as a bit early palate light, but only a fair spice finish with no unpleasing flavors (Not much in flavor at all); a quaff-able wine of a fair tannic structure, lively acidity, and clarity.

Ravenswood Napa Valley 2008 Zinfandel, $15.99, 85 points, is a vastly different wine having a somewhat pungent floral, almost Lilac aroma with a hint of kerosene on the late palate, a taste more associated with White wines, and a somewhat short spicy-pepper finish. The 2008 is more fruity than the 2005, but can't over-come its unbalanced qualities.

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2006 Westside Zinfandel is a PEACHY Paso Robles Canyon Wine

Peachy Canyon Westside 2006 Zinfandel, $17.77, 88 points, is a totally different animal from its weak-kneed underling from the Paso Robles Appellation reviewed earlier (Peachy-Canyon-not-always-Peachy-Keen).

The color is deep and dark with youth still flexing its muscle.

The nose is a more typical spice and black cherry aroma of good Zinfandel wines. The early palate is lush and smooth with lots of fruit and a very big black pepper finish.

I'm very glad that I found this wine and decided to fight my last experience with Peachy Canyon, for I delight in giving this Zinfandel a good review.

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Chipping Away At Chardonnay; Clam Bake Anyone

Chardonnay, An Early Foray!

I'm not a White wine drinker (As you Know, if you follow this blog) but I do on occasion try something different.
I do know what I like, and I don't always know why; wine is configurationally a whole, a "gestalt" where the sum of the parts does not equal the end-result, but almost mystically gives us "Character."

For me, a White or Red wine must be pleasant, that doesn't mean that it should be without the dynamics of crispness (Usually due to acidity), or flavor (Fruit that's not Flabby), but the wine should be fun and without grimacing. The wine experience should deepen my life like seeing a mountain view with pastures of alpine flowers and a striated sky.I think that the average wine purchase is about the paraphernalia of fun, and cost is so important (In some sense, cost represents more than 90% of why we decide on one wine over another), but why buy a wine to get drunk because it is a cheap wine (Whisky is Quicker)? Wine is food and compliments food as well.
My point today, is I've come across two of what I think are great Chardonnay wines, that as a last minute gift or for a versatile White wine to pair with that Duck, Ham, or Turkey on Christmas day, will not disappoint. 

Mer Soleil (Sea and Sun) 2008 Chardonnay, $24.99-$37.99, 91 points, I found this Chardonnay to be a well balanced wine of silky flavors of vanilla, butter, and citrus.
Described on Mer Soleil's own web-site as (a little paraphrasing): "Citrus driven nose. Hints of matchstick, pineapple, and banana. Soft and round entry. Oak is apparent but not defining (vanilla, coconut). Mid-palate goes on to reveal other layers of flavors— lemon meringue pie, and again coconut. Finish is rich with viscosity that coats the mouth for minutes after your last sip."




Mersoleilvineyardl
If you are unconventional about your Christmas feast: King Crab, Clam-Bake, or all by itself, this Chardonnay cuts the butter and refreshes the palate.
 

Frog's Leap 2009 Chardonnay, $20.39-$26.99, 92 points, I found this Chardonnay to be a very refreshing, crisp citrus with layers of buttery smoothness, which is a combination that make this White wine intense and uniquely and unimaginably delicious.
Described on Frog's Leap web-site (A most interesting web-site): “Crisp and clean” are not often ascribed to a California Chardonnay but with a nod to the great white wines of the old world, the 2009 Frog’s Leap Chardonnay is just that. Vivid flavors of green apple, citrus and peach are delicately touched with hints of vanilla and toast. The interplay of fresh fruit and bright acidity, marked by notes of wet stone and slate, offer fantastic complexity and drive the wine’s clean, refreshing finish. . ." Frogsleap
Judging from all my glowing reviews of Frog's Leap wines you would think that they are shipping their wines to me. They are not. In fact they didn't even answer my last e-mail, but no matter, Frog's Leap makes great wines.

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Seghesio Old Vine Sonoma County 2007 Zinfandel Trifecta

Seghesio Old Vine Sonoma County 2007 Zinfandel, $29.99, 92 points, is dark, almost a black color with yet a young transparent edge.

Wafting pleasant aromas of spicy earth, I knew right away this was going to be a special Zin.

Having an early palate of pepper, mild tobacco notes, and black fruit, complimented with a long gentle finish of white pepper and subtle hints of ginger, this quickly became a favorite of mine.

This is a well structured wine of distinction, balanced and very pair-able with most spicy foods and red meats (I enjoyed The Old Vine Zin with general Tso's chicken). Great as a standalone wine.

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Victory of Vintage or variance in Viticulture (Dueling Beringer Merlot Vintages Brings it on)

2007 Beringer Merlot Founder's Estate is a staple wine in my home, in fact it is the number one wine consumed here, but now the 2008 vintage is replacing the 2007; so as any wine-taster worth his stipend of grape, I blind-tasted the two.

These two wines are very different, yet they have a core of quality and economy that binds them together.

The  2007 Beringer Merlot Founder's Estate is more aromatic with a robust fruitiness with hints of mint.
The  2008 Beringer Merlot Founder's Estate is aromatically thin.

No contest here.

The 2007 is more fruit-forward and a bit minty, having a good finish, but sweeter
.
The 2008 has a heavier body with a quite spicy flavor and a long Black-pepper finish.

Well, you know me and a spicy finish!
I scored both vintages an 87 Points, and with a spicy price tag of just $6.99, both Beringer Merlots are a steal.


Just a little history: Jacob and Frederick Beringer started their NAPA valley winery in 1876 and it has continued until today, making its continuity the leader in longevity; their higher end wines are prized for their value, quality, and collect ability.

http://nhwineman.blogspot.com/2011/02/index-of-reviewed-wines.html

Kenwood Gets The Kinks Out Of Lodi Zinfandel

Kenwood Yulupa Old Vine Lodi 2007 Zinfandel, $9.99, 88 points, is a wonderful rebound from that Plungerhead Lodi Old-Vine 2008 Zinfandel.

The nose was the first tip-off: sweet blackberry and toasted blueberry followed by a dark-ruby color folding into a well balanced combination of white pepper and plum.
I paired this with a peppered tenderloin and a breaded rainbow pepper and spinach baked dough.
The finish diminished quickly, but over-all, Kenwood keeps surprising me with good red wines at very reasonable prices.
So, the Lodi Appellation comes through with a good Zinfandel at a good price, proving I'm not just an elitist Grinch, and that Claire-uncorked, has the experience and advice to keep this newbie in line; thanks Claire.

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New Hampshire Wine Man Plunging Head-On Into Plungerhead Zin

Plungerhead Lodi Old-Vine 2008 Zinfandel, $11.70-$15.80, 79 points, is dark red in color, and hits you in the nose with strong vegetative aromas (A Negative for me) and with heavy out-of-balance flavors of licorice and stale dark-berry (my guess is that my displeasure is showing).
Plungerhead reminds me of a more spicy ECCO Domani delle Venezie 2007 Merlot, $8-$12.00, 79 points, which I found to be a bitter almost sour Merlot.
Plungerhead has a Dry Creek Zinfandel , which is a better appellation for Zinfandels in my opinion, (not yet tasted), than is the Lodi appellation. Keep in mind that many wine enthusiasts like the Lodi Zins equally or better, but I will stand by my assessment.
Standing alone in the wine-tasting world and criticizing a wine company's "pet" may be frowned upon, but if you buy this wine, come across this blog, and agree that this is a No-buy wine, let me know; all others may-NOT comment, because I've already read several reviewers that liked this wine (3.5 out of 5). Wow! Another wine I wouldn't drink if it was the last wine in the world!
Since I bought this wine, since no one is paying me to gloss-over my opinion, and since this is my palate, I'm telling you what I really think. I hope you, the buying public, will benefit from my experience.
Now, what to do with a wine I don't like?
First, I'll cork it, put in the refrigerator, keeping it handy to deglaze my stainless-steel pans.
Secondly, I might try and combine it with another OK wine (I've done this before) that is not expensive, but counters some of that unpleasant bitterness (Usually Beringers Founders Estate Merlot).
Trying different things is a good idea and may just save me and you some money.
Let me know what you have done.

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