Linne Calodo "Outsider" 2006 - yet another big zin!

From Paso Robles' winemaker Matt Trevisan comes the 2006 Outsider - 75% zinfandel, 21% syrah, 4% mouvedre. This is similar to other Paso blends like Ridge Paso Robles, Red Soles zin, and others. I had great expectations that Outsider would enter the elite big zin category, especially with the lofty acquisition price of $46.

Outsider certainly knocks on the castle door but there's only room for a few on the elite floor. The 2006 doesn't unseat any of the current royal court, but it holds a dance card for the next slow number.

I noticed that the 2007 Outsider is going for $70+ which tells me that the following vintage is more promising. This follows since 2007 is a banner zin year in Paso and elsewhere. As is, the 2006 is hefty but not large. The price is fair but not valued. Few zins have this balance, however. It shows some pepper, but not overly so. There are dark cherries up front, but it fades into a baked cobbler instead of a Twixie stick bomb. The finish is quite long and pleasant with a Dr. Pepper-ish... perhaps cherry cola finale.

Complex, balanced, and long finish. Quite nice. Top 10 zins, but lower on the scale. Still, it's really worth a spin. I'd be willing to go the extra $$$ for the 2007 if you can find it.

T-Scale 90. I'm picky on my zins yet this one gets a nod. Pricey though. Not quite Biker, not yet Turley, but still very good.

Hendry Block 28 Napa Valley Zinfandel

And so comes the Hendry Block 28 Napa Valley Zinfandel which was recommended by my friends at my local tasting (a shout out to Tracy and Phil!). I started this with the Sunday effort, the ribeye and risotto, which demanded something big as a complement.

The Hendry enters the already crowded list of great zinfandels on my short list. But where... ah here lies the quandry.

http://www.hendrywines.com/current/zin05-blk28.htm


It is young, with these vines producing their first yield in 2005, this vintage. First taste shows this is a young zin, but as we all know, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The fruit is lighter but the finish is long and lightly peppery. All of the expected big zinfandel traits are present here, but perhaps on a smaller scale than I like. It is quite nice, however, this being a great complement to steaks or other large meaty dishes.

I will diverge on a slight tangent here much to the chagrin of the 2 or 3 of you who actually read this... zin is the wine I admire most. There.. I've said it. I love pinot... I treasure big cabs... I search for those Italian varietals with that large complexity... blah blah blah.. but in the end, it's zins I grade the hardest.

I am an American and with that comes the inevitable.. I love Zinfandel. The French blend it in to Rhones, the Italians call it Primitivo and bottle it as table wine, and the rest of the world dabbles in it as a secondary grape. But the Americans have made it an art form.

Turley Dusi is the one to beat. Ridge still holds the title for the common man's zin, Four Vines Biker is the @$$ kickin' upstart, but I am always game to try all the rest in hopes that someone else will pierce the top five.

Hendry is an up and coming with potential to get there, but not yet. T-Scale 89. Great, but a bit pricey considering Four Vines Biker is $9.00 less, Cline's Lone Oak, Big Break and Ridge Paso Robles and Lytton Springs are also less. Look for this to get big reviews in future vintages.

Dusted Valley 2006 cabernet sauvignon

First enjoyed at my local regular tasting, I purchased this one last night and savored it with grilled pork and baked beans. Need a large cab to carry you over the bold flavors of bbq beans? This one is fruit forward, dusty, and a bit sour on the tongue. It is young, but bold.. hedonistic, actually.

I don't see this holding up in your cellar, but if you want one ready to unscrew (yep, no cork here) this is a great choice! Ready now to pour and enjoy. Great for steaks, pork, and other meaty entrées or just as a stand-alone. I wouldn't recommend this as your first bottle.. make it the last of the evening. This one is likely to dominate the evening.

In sum, a large, bold Washington cab with big fruit, oak, and a bit of citrus. Good all around and fairly priced at $24.99. T-Scale - 90. I'm not sure how many cases were produced as the vinter's website is of little use. I believe this is a blend, but again, I can't find that info from the vinter. If you find it, email me troopint@gmail.com and clue me in.

Alamos 2008 Torrontes

Ever want something really different in a white? Torrontes is something to try. It's generally inexpensive but very tasty. It's much like sauvignon blanc but very forward with big citrus and melon on the tongue. I sensed a little bit of nutmeg and basil along with peach and lemon. The nose is lemony with a grassy touch. It finishes very nice with a long sour send-off.

Compare this to a young and flavorful sauvignon blanc but more tasty. It's a big hit in Argentina but still mostly unknown in the US. This means you get a whole lot of bang for your buck! This offering from Alamos can be had for less than $10 most everywhere. Buy it up now and enjoy for it won't be long before everyone else knows about torrontes. Once they do, the price is sure to go up.

T-Scale 89+. I love this one for the money! Actually, I love this one for the taste. Christina even liked it - bonus!

Castle Rock 2007 Russian River Syrah

So I went shopping at my favorite local shop for Enthusiast's tasted wines for the month. Well, I only found one - the Castle Rock syrah. It was $11.99 so I wasn't expecting much although W.E. gave it an 86, a fair rating for this price.

I admit, this syrah shows more structure and tannin than expected. I concur with W.E. that this wine would make "a good by-the-glass" wine for restaurants, but it also makes for a decent wine to back up a steak or big pasta dish at home. If you're like me, you save the better bottles for the weekend, but during the week you want a taste and don't really want to put out big money for it. Add this to your list of nice bigger reds for less money.

T-Scale - 88. I like this one at this price. This syrah is better than most Australian shiraz/syrah I've had at this price level. It shows much better than the $10-$12 price would suggest.


From Castle Rock:

WINE MAKING NOTES
Vineyard Source: 100% Russian River Valley
Harvest Date: September, 2007
Brix: 24.0
Fermentation: Barrel Aged 18 months
Oak: 75% French, 25% American
T/A: .60 gr/100 ml
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bottled: April 2009
Cases Produced: 1,400
Winemaker: August Briggs

Beaulieu - BV Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

I picked this up after Wine Enthusiast gave it a fat review of 92 points. I found it at Jungle Jim's in Fairfield for $17.99 and later in Costco for $14.99!!!. Costco had at least twenty cases of it on the floor as well.

Is it a 92? Well, no, but it's plenty good, especially at that price. This has 5% merlot and 1% cabernet franc to give it a really good finish. Aged for 18 months in American Oak, BV shows exceptional quality in production at this price level.

Dark fruits and cola are bold and forward. It's a bit flabby, but refined on the finish. I don't recommend this for the cellar but can recommend drinking now. It's ready!

T-Scale 90+. This is a big winner in the under $20 cab market. Put this next to the Wente Southern Hills, Rodney Strong, and Hess Allomi Vineyard cabs. Very good value!

Simi Landslide cabernet sauvignon 2005

The Simi Landslide is the premier offering from this winemaker and it is a dandy! During my visit, the shop keeper allowed tastings of a few vintages and all show nicely. I shipped two of the 2005's back from Healdsburg because of its excellent value. This big time California Meritage costs roughly half of similar offerings in Napa.

The 2005 reviews at 94 in Wine Enthusiast and rightfully so. I found deep dark fruits in the nose along with Coke and Pepsi. Large current, oak, and spices on the tongue with an extra long tannin finish. The Alexander Valley can give Napa a run for the money with this one... and at half the cost of a Miner, Stag's Leap, or Peju. OK, it's not quite Peju, but it's available and affordable.

T-Scale 93. If anyone sees Landslide on the shelf, let me know. You will see plenty of Simi Cabernet Sauvignon out there, but the Landslide is scarce outside of the source. Any vintage shows well, but the 2005 is exceptional. There also exists a Landslide Reserve which is as rare as a whooping crane sighting. If you find this, treat yourself. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years.