 |
|
Wine Details
Price:
$10.00 per bottle
Description:
When tasting a bottle of red plonk, one normally expects to wince a little knowing that the price paid for the everyday table wine generally reflects the quality to endure. Not so with our 2001 El Tinto Lot 23. Not only does this wine sport the great vintage of “2001,” it is also a varietal El Dorado Zinfandel!
The nose immediately jumps out with complex Zinfandelness, filled with deep plum and ripe cherry fruit. A dash of black pepper and sprig of spice round out the youthful yet mature aromas of this classic Zin.
It’s the palate, however, that truly makes this wine an exquisite find. Wonderfully smooth and rich with a medium-bodied texture, this Zinfandel is spice-oriented while never losing touch with the dark cherry essence of the variety. With just a hint of oak and a home-canned cherry finish lingering on the senses, this wine will surprise even the most price-conscious connoisseur.
|
|
Varietal Definition
Zinfandel:
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the 'heel' of Italy. It is typically made into a robust red wine. Its taste depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas such as the Napa Valley, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas such as Sonoma County. Many Zinfandels come from head pruned ‘Old Vines’. ‘Old Vine’ is generally understood to mean a vine that is more than 50 years old and that produces less than three tons per acre. ‘Head Pruning’ is an old European style of pruning that trains the vine into the shape of a goblet. It requires no wires or other complex trellis systems. Head pruning spreads the fruit uniformly along the vine and allows light penetration.In the USA a semi-sweet Rosé (blush-style) wine called ‘White Zinfandel’ has achieved widespread popularity. In fact, this popularity has so outstripped all other forms that many fans think there is actually a grape called “White Zinfandel” (there isn’t)!
|
|