Casto Oaks
Mariposa County Zinfandel
Sierra Foothills, California, USA
Deep purple in color, almost Inky, with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee and black pepper.
Full bodied and smooth with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, earth, vanilla, light bitter vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Nice tangy finish with raspberries and spices.
This is a very tasty Zinfandel from Sierra Foothills in California. Spicy and a good sipping wine.
Nicely balanced and easy drinking, with nicely integrated alcohol, so watch out.
This 6 year old is drinking very nicely now, with mild complexity and a great mouthfeel. Soft and elegant.
Good right out of the bottle, and tannins show up after 15 minutes of airtime. As it continues to open up, it shows more earth notes.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.
Good by itself or with food, and will pair nicely with a burger.
100% Zinfandel grapes were aged for 19 months in neutral American oak. Unfiltered. A tiny production of only 4 barrels.
15.7% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$23.
Deep purple in color, almost Inky, with a short purple rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee and black pepper.
Full bodied and smooth with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, earth, vanilla, light bitter vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.
Nice tangy finish with raspberries and spices.
This is a very tasty Zinfandel from Sierra Foothills in California. Spicy and a good sipping wine.
Nicely balanced and easy drinking, with nicely integrated alcohol, so watch out.
This 6 year old is drinking very nicely now, with mild complexity and a great mouthfeel. Soft and elegant.
Good right out of the bottle, and tannins show up after 15 minutes of airtime. As it continues to open up, it shows more earth notes.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.
Good by itself or with food, and will pair nicely with a burger.
100% Zinfandel grapes were aged for 19 months in neutral American oak. Unfiltered. A tiny production of only 4 barrels.
15.7% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$23.
Ruby /brick In color with a wide reddish /brick rim.
Fruity nose with black currants, black cherries, sweet strawberries, wood, mocha, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, black pepper, light alcohol and pencil lead.
Medium plus in body and soft, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, red currants, oak, vanilla, tobacco, spices, chocolates, peppercorn and dark coffee.
Medium plus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 6 year old Zinfandel from Sierra Foothills is peaking now. Drinking very nicely with nice balance and complexity. Spicy with a soft mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up. Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show the tannins. The spicy finish lingers for a few minutes.
I had this vintage a year ago and I'm glad I had another bottle. What a difference.
I paired it with meats and cheeses.
Aged for 12 months in American (mostly neutral) oak barrels.
14.8% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$21.
Ruby /brick In color with a wide reddish /brick rim.
Fruity nose with black currants, black cherries, sweet strawberries, wood, mocha, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, black pepper, light alcohol and pencil lead.
Medium plus in body and soft, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, red currants, oak, vanilla, tobacco, spices, chocolates, peppercorn and dark coffee.
Medium plus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 6 year old Zinfandel from Sierra Foothills is peaking now. Drinking very nicely with nice balance and complexity. Spicy with a soft mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up. Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show the tannins. The spicy finish lingers for a few minutes.
I had this vintage a year ago and I'm glad I had another bottle. What a difference.
I paired it with meats and cheeses.
Aged for 12 months in American (mostly neutral) oak barrels.
14.8% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$21.
Ruby in color with light intensity and a wide light brick rim.
Fruity nose of cherries, strawberries, currants, vanilla, licorice, wood, spices, peppercorn, green herbs, graphite and earth.
Light to medium in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with black plums, cherries, wood, licorice, currants, earth, spices, peppercorn, light vegetables and pencil lead.
Medium plus in finish with soft tannins red pepper and tangy cranberries.
This California Zinfandel is still drinking nicely. An above average red wine. Well balanced with mild complexity. Spicy with a soft mouthfeel.
Not the usual California Zinfandel. This is a Zinfandel for the Pinot Noir drinker. Not what I expected, but it grew on me.
Good right out of the bottle, but after 90 minutes it is much nicer, showing complexity and tannins. Spicy and light.
Alcohol is high, but not noticeable after opening up. Drinks way too easily for all that alcohol, so watch out...
I paired it with a cheese plate of soft and hard goat cheeses, crackers and nuts.
Aged for 12 months in American Oak barrels (10% new).
14.8% alcohol by volume.
87 Points.
$19.
Ruby in color with light intensity and a wide light brick rim.
Fruity nose of cherries, strawberries, currants, vanilla, licorice, wood, spices, peppercorn, green herbs, graphite and earth.
Light to medium in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with black plums, cherries, wood, licorice, currants, earth, spices, peppercorn, light vegetables and pencil lead.
Medium plus in finish with soft tannins red pepper and tangy cranberries.
This California Zinfandel is still drinking nicely. An above average red wine. Well balanced with mild complexity. Spicy with a soft mouthfeel.
Not the usual California Zinfandel. This is a Zinfandel for the Pinot Noir drinker. Not what I expected, but it grew on me.
Good right out of the bottle, but after 90 minutes it is much nicer, showing complexity and tannins. Spicy and light.
Alcohol is high, but not noticeable after opening up. Drinks way too easily for all that alcohol, so watch out...
I paired it with a cheese plate of soft and hard goat cheeses, crackers and nuts.
Aged for 12 months in American Oak barrels (10% new).
14.8% alcohol by volume.
87 Points.
$19.