Pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish/brick rim.
Very fruity nose of black fruits, cedar, tobacco, spices and black pepper. Still smells fresh.
Full bodied with medium acidity and fat legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, dried fruits, oak, cloves, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.
Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 5-year-old Zinfandel is drinking very nicely now, and displaying good aging characteristics, likely due to it being a 375 ml bottle. Complex, with a soft mouthfeel
Peaking now, so drink up. Good right out of the bottle and better than I expected.
Good by itself or with food. Stood up pretty well to the strong French Blue Cheese.
A blend of 85% Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Syrah.
15.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$20 (375ml).
Pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish/brick rim.
Very fruity nose of black fruits, cedar, tobacco, spices and black pepper. Still smells fresh.
Full bodied with medium acidity and fat legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, dried fruits, oak, cloves, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.
Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 5-year-old Zinfandel is drinking very nicely now, and displaying good aging characteristics, likely due to it being a 375 ml bottle. Complex, with a soft mouthfeel
Peaking now, so drink up. Good right out of the bottle and better than I expected.
Good by itself or with food. Stood up pretty well to the strong French Blue Cheese.
A blend of 85% Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Syrah.
15.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$20 (375ml).
Oct 6th, 2024
Smooth Zin, with the typical peppery notes. I am not the greatest fan of Zin, but this one is solid. Not a wine for everyone.
Smooth Zin, with the typical peppery notes. I am not the greatest fan of Zin, but this one is solid. Not a wine for everyone.
Nov 7th, 2022
Red fruits, celery, hints of spice.
Red fruits, celery, hints of spice.
Dec 17th, 2017
Monster wine. Fruit, a bit of pepper, nice structure. Paired quite nicely with steak and potatoes
Monster wine. Fruit, a bit of pepper, nice structure. Paired quite nicely with steak and potatoes
5 people found it helpfulAug 23rd, 2015
2013 not as good as some earlier years but still a great zin spicy, with peppers and a hint of vodka. I wonder if they tried this on the Netflix original story Somm? This wine is red, this wine is medium+ bodied, pepper...blah blah blah this is good.
2013 not as good as some earlier years but still a great zin spicy, with peppers and a hint of vodka. I wonder if they tried this on the Netflix original story Somm? This wine is red, this wine is medium+ bodied, pepper...blah blah blah this is good.
2 people found it helpfulAug 1st, 2015
Mason Balistreri 
Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits
7.9
Well technically it is one of the better Zins that I have ever had but it is EXACTLY what you would expect. There isn't anything daring or unique. Big and fruity, tons of oak that blows off. There should be more to wine than this.
Well technically it is one of the better Zins that I have ever had but it is EXACTLY what you would expect. There isn't anything daring or unique. Big and fruity, tons of oak that blows off. There should be more to wine than this.
2 people found it helpfulDec 14th, 2013
This is ORIN SWIFTS Saldo before it was sold to become prisoner. 2009 Saldo. Was beautiful, bold and aged perfectly. Black Forest chocolate cake.
This is ORIN SWIFTS Saldo before it was sold to become prisoner. 2009 Saldo. Was beautiful, bold and aged perfectly. Black Forest chocolate cake.
1 person found it helpfulJul 1st, 2020
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of very ripe black plum, blackberry, black cherry, intense vanilla; off dry, medium acid, medium tannins, high alcohol, full body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; extremely ripe and full body, only moderately complex, quite jammy
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of very ripe black plum, blackberry, black cherry, intense vanilla; off dry, medium acid, medium tannins, high alcohol, full body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; extremely ripe and full body, only moderately complex, quite jammy
1 person found it helpfulDec 13th, 2019
Jammy! This is a very bold wine, not really balanced but it is unique. 85% Zinfandel 15% blend of Syrah & Petite Sirah. The Zinfandel comes from 3 different AVA’s. It is a unique blend, I recommend it for someone who doesn’t know a lot about wine and likes a bold wine, you could really impress them. I wonder what this wine was like when Phinney was the winemaker.
Jammy! This is a very bold wine, not really balanced but it is unique. 85% Zinfandel 15% blend of Syrah & Petite Sirah. The Zinfandel comes from 3 different AVA’s. It is a unique blend, I recommend it for someone who doesn’t know a lot about wine and likes a bold wine, you could really impress them. I wonder what this wine was like when Phinney was the winemaker.
1 person found it helpfulApr 26th, 2019
California, USA
