Jack Sweitzer's
VINO FINO TASTING
1999 California ZINFANDELS
October 17, 2001
The 1999 vintage saw a rather cool
summer. There was a lot of fog during June, July and August so it had the
appearance of being a rather late harvest. September saw some clear days
with hot weather and the sugar levels started to rise on the Zinfandel around
most of the North Coast. This provided good growers with good quality
fruit.
We found this to be a difficult set of wines to rank, as the quality level was
rather high and the wines, for the most part, were within a narrow range.
Here's what we found:
| The Wines |
Gerald's Ranking |
VINO FINO RANK |
Total Points |
1sts/2nds/
Lasts |
D-CUBED
1999
Howell Mtn. (Napa)
$29.99 |
2 |
2 |
28 |
2/1/0 |
GREENWOOD RIDGE
1999
Sonoma
"Scherrer Vineyard" |
6 |
6 |
45 |
0/2/1 |
PEDRONCELLI
1999
Dry Creek
"Mother Clone"
$12.49 |
8 |
8 |
70 |
0/0/7 |
RIDGE
1999
Geyserville
$30 |
7 |
7 |
48 |
0/1/0 |
SEGHESIO
1999
Dry Creek
"Cortina"
$27 |
1 |
5 |
37 |
1/1/1 |
SUMMERS
1999
Howell Mtn.
Napa
$21.99 |
4 |
4 |
36 |
1/1/0 |
TRENTADUE'S
"LA STORIA"
1999
Alexander Valley
$27.99 |
3 |
1 |
24 |
3/1/0 |
TURLEY
1999
Lodi
"Dogtown"
$40 |
5 |
3 |
36 |
2/2/0 |
8th Place: PEDRONCELLI Dry Creek "Mother Clone Vineyard"
ZINFANDEL
While this wine is not flawed in any way, it was simply out-classed by
the competition. This displays a mild berry fruit with an herbal tone, but
not much dimension. The wine is rather big on the palate, with mild
tannins and a touch of heat. I gave it a one-star (three star scale, no
stars being average or standard).
7th Place: RIDGE 1999 GEYSERVILLE
I found this to be rather berryish with hints of pepper and a lightly
woodsy note. It's quite full on the palate, showing spice and alcohol,
which contributes to its somewhat hot finish. A hint of raspberry jam is
evident on the palate. More interesting, at this point, on the nose, than
palate. Half-a-star to one star.
6th Place: GREENWOOD RIDGE 1999 Sonoma "Scherrer Vineyard"
Lots of fruity, raspberry notes on the aroma of this wine. I
thought it had a candy-like flavor with substantial alcohol and a bit of heat.
Half-a-star.
5th Place: SEGHESIO 1999 Dry Creek "Cortina" ZINFANDEL
I found this to be somewhat of a reference point for Zinfandel, the wine
showing lots of raspberry notes and a faint spice quality, too. The
flavors are reminiscent of cranberry and raspberry with an easy-to-drink profile
(not tons of alcohol or tannin). Very nice. One-and-a-half to two
stars.
4th Place: SUMMERS 1999 Howell Mtn. Napa ZINFANDEL
The nose of this shows nice raspberry fruit with a touch of spice and a
hint of a sandalwood fragrance. The same notes are present on the palate,
making for an exotic and agreeable wine. Big and rich...very nice!
One-and-a-half stars.
3rd Place: TURLEY 1999 Lodi "Dogtown" ZINFANDEL
This was
well-liked by a number of tasters, but a couple of us down-graded this for
simply being "too big." It has a nice berry-like fragrance with
a bit of heat from the alcohol. There's a nice touch of oak to the
bouquet. I didn't find it to be especially complex, but it does have nice
berry-like fruit on the palate with moderate tannins and, again, some
heat. (It's 16.3% alcohol!) One star.
2nd Place: D-CUBED 1999 Howell Mtn. Napa ZINFANDEL
This wine had fared well in a Weimax tasting of 1999 Zinfandels and it
did well here, too. Raspberry-like fruit with a hint of a stalky notes gave
way to a woodsy and mildly peppery fragrance. I found a hint of residual
sugar to this wine, with bright, berry-like fruit and some spice. It's
quite a mouth-full.
One-and-a-half stars.
1st Place: TRENTADUE'S "LA STORIA" 1999 Alexander Valley
ZINFANDEL
Lots of
raspberry notes with a touch of a jammy quality, this is briary, ripe and shows
a bit of wood, too.
On the palate, it's a big, berryish wine with lots of fruit and mild tannins.
It won a Weimax tasting of Zins and it's won this competition as well.
Having a winemaker, apparently, makes a big difference in the quality of one's
wine.
VINO FINO TASTING ARCHIVE
2007 RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS February 2010
A
RANGE OF FRENCH CHABLIS WINES January 2010
HOLIDAY DINNER
& WINE MARATHON December 2009
ROSÉ
SPARKLING WINES November 2009
ARGENTINEAN
MALBECS October 2009
WEST
COAST CHARDONNAYS September 2009
GREEK
RED WINES August 2009
2005
BUDGET BORDEAUX July 2009
CAMPANIAN
WHITE WINES June 2009
MIXED
BAG OF CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS April 2009
RIOJA
WINES, MOSTLY FROM THE 2004 VINTAGE March 2009
NORTH
COAST PETITE SIRAHS February 2009
SYRAH
& PETITE SIRAH COMPARISON January 2009
A
VINO FINO CHRISTMAS December 2008
MOSTLY
2005s: NAPA CABERNETS November 2008
SONOMA
COUNTY PINOT NOIRS October 2008
SANTA
RITA HILLS -2006 VINTAGE- PINOT NOIRS SEPTEMBER 2008
NEWLY
RELEASED ZINFANDELS August 2008
WHITE
RHÔNE VALLEY WINES JULY 2008
LOIRE
VALLEY SAUVIGNONS JUNE 2008
FRENCH
CHABLIS 2005-2006 MAY 2008
NORTHERN
RHÔNE SYRAHS APRIL 2008
SANTA
CRUZ MOUNTAINS PINOT NOIRS January 2008
ANNUAL
HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS DINNER December 2007
WEST
COAST CHARDONNAYS November 2007
AUSTRALIAN
SHIRAZ October 2007
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLO WINES September 2007
SONOMA'S
2005 VINTAGE ZINFANDELS August 2007
CURRENT
RELEASE (2004-2005) ZINFANDELS July 2007
ROS
WINES FROM ALL OVER June 2007
ITALIAN
LAGREIN WINES May 2007
ARGENTINEAN
MALBECS April 2007
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE PINOT NOIRS March 2007
MOSTLY
2004 CABERNETS February 2007
CRU
BEAUJOLAIS January 2007
A VINO
FINO CHRISTMAS December 2006
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS November 2006
PINOT
NOIRS of VALUE-PRICING October 2006
WORLD
OF SYRAHS TASTING September 2006
AUSSIE
CABERNET-SHIRAZ BLENDS August 2006
ALEXANDER
VALLEY (California) and MARGARET RIVER (Australia) CABERNETS July
2006
CALIFORNIA
PETITE SIRAHS June 2006
2004
NORTH COAST PINOTS and a FRENCH INTRUDER May 2006
AGLIANICO
: BASILICATA & CAMPANIA'S MAJOR RED WINE April 2006
NERO
D'AVOLA - A TASTE OF SICILIA March 2006
UNDER THE
VINO FINO RADAR ZINFANDELS January 2006
HOLIDAY WINE
TASTING & DINNER December 2005
BUBBLIES FROM AROUND
THE WORLD November 2005
NORTH
COAST PINOT NOIRS October 2005
STATE
OF CONFUSION CABERNETS September 2005
TIM
ZAINER'S SIDEWAYS LOOK AT MERLOTS August 2005
LOIRE VALLEY CABERNET
FRANCS June 2005
CALIFORNIA
SYRAHS March 2005
2002
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS February 2005
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON December 2004
CHARDONNAYS
OF MODEST PRICE November 2004
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLO October 2004
2002
CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIRS September 2004
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ-CABERNET BLENDS August 2004
GEWRZTRAMINERS
FROM ALSACE July 2004
2001
SOUTHERN RHNES (7 Chteauneufs & a Vacqueyras) June 2004
AGLIANICO
WINES FROM CAMPANIA & BASILICATA May 2004
MONTEPULCIANO
WINES FROM THE ABRUZZO & MARCHE REGIONS April 2004
SONOMA
ZINFANDELS February 2004
1997
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO January 2004
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA 2003
2001
CTES du RHNES September 17, 2003
2000
OREGON PINOT NOIRS August 20, 2003
WEST
COAST SYRAHS July 16, 2003
2000
Bordeaux June 18, 2003
2000
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 21, 2003
OFF
THE BEATEN PATH SYRAHS APRIL 16, 2003
2002 NEW ZEALAND
SAUVIGNON BLANCS March 19, 2003
1999
California CABERNETS February 19, 2003
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA December 4, 2002
AUSTRALIAN
SHIRAZ August 21, 2002
CHAMPAGNES
& SPARKLERS July 17, 2002
Interesting
Paired CHARDONNAYS
May 15, 2002
2001
Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS Feb. 20, 2002
1999 ZINFANDELS January 16, 2002
HOLIDAY
SEASON BACCHANALIA
December 5, 2001
1999-2000
New PINOT NOIRS November 14, 2001
1999
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 17, 2001
1998
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 19, 2001
1999
LANGUEDOC REDS August 15, 2001
1997
SAUTERNES July 18, 2001
Mostly
1998 NEBBIOLO June 20, 2001
1999 PINOT NOIRS May
16, 2001
1996
SAINT-MILION Tasting April 18, 2001
CARNEROS
CHARDONNAYS March 21, 2001
1984-1985
NAPA CABERNETS/John Vignau Memorial Tasting October 20, 2000
1997
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 20, 2000
1998 CALIFORNIA
CHARDONNAYS August 16, 2000
WINES
FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: CLARETS June 21, 2000
WINES
FROM UNDER THE TUSCAN (and Umbrian) SUN Aprile 19, 2000
1997 BORDEAUX: MEDOC May 17,
2000
