 Where
we got it and how much it cost.
Kroger Supermarket for $8.79
with our Kroger Plus Card.
General
Impression of Blackstone Zinfandel, 2002
As always it is hard to not
please me with any decent Zinfandel but this one was very good
indeed. Lots of berry with a lot of fruit flavor as
well. There is definitely a nice peppery spice to it in
the finish with some good oak quality as well. Zinfandel
is one of the harder wines to find under 10 dollars, especially
from the Lodi area of California. This is a great one and
the Lodi vines that the Zinfandel grapes come from are 85 plus
years old, so this is indeed an "old vine
Zinfandel" so for under 9
bucks this is a very hard one to beat.
What
Flavors are Most Dominant or Evident In This Wine?
Berry,
Apricot, Oak, Spice
What
foods will this wine go well with?
No doubt that this wine is not
as fruity and big as the Dancing Bull Zinfandel we reviewed
earlier this month but it is very good. It would be ok
with a steak but may not be as perfect as a more intense Zin for
that. Burgers would be excellent, pork chops or good
pasta. Really want to do something different, try some
dark semi bitter chocolate with this one for desert. For a
lighter treat try a glass mid day with some grapes and good
cheese.
What's
Grapes are In Blackstone Zinfandel, 2002?
Will
I keep it In My Wine Rack, If So How Much?
Yes and the only reason I
won't keep a lot is because I have become such a fan of Dancing
Bull so fast. Still this is a lighter Zin more suited to
some of my lighter wine drinking guests. It also has a
special quality due in large part to the blending of Merlot and
Syrah. With all the blending of vineyard sources and varietals
this is really a very nice poor mans Meritage. I will definitely
keep a few bottles around and will age at least one another year
just to play with it. Honestly if I had not just reviewed
that bottle of Dancing Bull last week this one might have rated
Highest Recommendation vs. Highly Recommended. I just
don't think I am being fair to this wine right now so I will
make the sacrifice and review it again some time next month.
Who Is Going to Enjoy This Wine?
Anyone who likes a medium
bodied fruity but dry red. This is a great wine and unless
you just don't care for Zinfandel you will love it. While
those who can identify a "98 Opus 1", with a single
sip it may not be that impressive but I honestly defy the
average lover of red wine to find much to fault with this one.
What
Does the Bottle or Vintners Web Site Say About this Wine?
From
the Bottle - "Blackstone Zinfandel is
produced from vineyards located throughout California. At
Blackstone, we believe each appellation contributes unique
flavor and structure derived from the area's soil and climatic
conditions.
We have carefully developed
each vineyard lot to capture their unique flavors and aromatic
qualities. The ideal blend results in the Blackstone
signature style, a wine that is integrated, with rich supple
fruit flavors and elegant creaminess. this Zinfandel
exhibits fresh apricot and berry aromas followed by intense
fruit and spice flavors. Enjoy at home or in fine
restaurants with a variety of flavorful cuisines. ~ Dennis
Hill - Wine Maker".
From
Tasting Notes of The Black Stone Website - Our
2002 California Zinfandel is handcrafted from exceptional
vineyards, each contributing to the distinctive flavors of this
fine wine. The Zinfandel grapes were sourced from 80-year-old
vines in the Lodi area of San Joaquin Valley, newer vines in
Mendocino County and the historic Paso Robles area of California’s
Central Coast.
The wine
underwent 100% malolactic fermentation to reduce acidity and
enhance flavor. Winemaker Dennis Hill matured the wine in
barrels of 75% American oak and 25% French oak of which 30% were
new and 70% were one- to three-year-old barrels. This added
toasty oak character without overpowering the vibrant red-fruit
flavors.
The 2002
Blackstone Zinfandel is rich in purple plum, smoky oak and
vanilla aromas. The wine has intense flavors of fresh and stewed
plums, with distinctive spice and black pepper overtones. A
robust mouthfeel is complemented by a well-balanced texture and
structure and a long finish. At Blackstone we believe in wines
that are friendly, flavorful and balanced, encouraging the
marriage between food and wine. Enjoy this wine with marinated
and grilled meats, seasoned entrees such as veal with peppercorn
sauce, pasta and spicy dishes.
The
Blackstone Winery Website
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