A nice Zinfandel

[Jono]

I have just enjoyed..over two nights...a bottle of Pellegrini 2004 Russian River Valley Zinfandel "Eight Cousins Vineyard" ...a very smooooth Zin with nice complex flavors....light on tannins....a very nice wine.

I was not familiar with this vineyard's products but so far so good.

[Jono]

I paid 14.99 by the way ...I have seen it on the web for 19.99...you may find it cheaper as I bought mine at a local wine shop and not a superstore.

[spun_cookie]

If you are a big zin fan, Renwood out of Amador County north east of Sac has some of the best Zins in California... my personal favorite spot for Zins...

[Vange]

I like the Montevina Terra D'Oro also out of Amodor county. They are $15-$20ish. They also have an old vine zin from Deaver Vineyard and that one is really really nice, but difficult to find. One other I recently had, but is $30+ was Brown Estate. EXCELLENT!

[Jono]

Thanks for the tips! Will look for them.

[burbankbrewer]

Try Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull Zinfandel. It's cheap at $8 but tastes more expensive.

[BourbonJoe]

If you are a big zin fan, Renwood out of Amador County north east of Sac has some of the best Zins in California... my personal favorite spot for Zins...

I personally like the Zins from Sonoma.

Joe :usflag:

[texascarl]

Keep an eye peeled for 'Za Zin' by Laurel Glen. It's old vines Lodi juice, sells for $15 or so around here and it sure changed MY mind about Lodi (fat, flabby, etc...). Powerful, tasty, but not 'hot' (you can get too much alcohol in a zin if you're not careful. Anybody can make a 'big' Lodi zin, but it takes some doing to make REALLY FREAKIN' GOOD Lodi Zin) Patrick Campbell, the owner, also makes an everyday zin 'field blend' called REDS that is my 'take to every picnic' wine. $8, delicious and I mean DELICIOUS with grilled meats, pizza, roast chicken. He changes the blend slightly from year to year, buying good grapes and keeping the costs in mind. Never had a bad one yet. This is his 'wine for the people', I buy his $70 Laurel Glen bottles of cab when I'm flush, but I buy a whole lotta REDS and Za Zin even when I'm not flush. He even imports a lot of good Malbec from Argentina and makes the wine in CA. A stand up guy when we talked, all his stuff is highly recommended.

[ratcheer]

I have been enjoying Coppola's Diamond Collection Zinfandel, lately. I don't know where it lies in the hierarchy, but it is certainly very pleasant. Very deep fruit flavors.

Tim

[mythrenegade]

One of my favorite "easy to find" and inexpensive zinfandels is Peachy Canyon.

Joel

[Sijan]

Try Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull Zinfandel. It's cheap at $8 but tastes more expensive.

I agree - I was impressed by the full flavor of this wine.

[Jono]

Tonight, with some lasagna and Italian sausage, I opened a relatively inexpensive bottle of 2005 Clos Du Bois Zinfandel..."North Coast"....it is ok, drier than the Pelligrino.

I love the tasting notes on the lable:

This bold, full bodied Zinfandel exibits aromas of ripe raspberry and strawberry (nosing...well ok..I guess) with nicely layered characters of black plum (whaa?), pepper and cinammon (I guess I missed those!)"

I have found Clos Du Bois wines to be pretty dependable and at decent prices.

[jbaker]

For a quaffing zin, I go for the Bogle Old Vine Zin. Not sure what the appellation is off the top of my head, but it runs about $15 and I think it's worth every penny of it. My newest fascination though has been with the counter-movement in Cali zins where they are making them a lot lighter in body and style. The lighter ones that I've found are coming from Amador County, but you have to know the producer to be able to tell. The lightest one I've come across was Homewood Hoskins Vineyard Zin (Dry Creek AVA). It's almost Pinot Noir light. Very juicey (think cherry juice without the pucker) with a phantom sensation of earthiness. Downside, $40-50.

Speaking of Phantom, around Thanksgiving check out the Bogle Phatom. Awesome blend for $18! (Think blueberry pie.)