DALLAS 2ND WEDNESDAY - SEPTEMBER 2008 - Amici's in Carollton, TX (9/17/2008)

The Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group met on our anniversary as we do each September to reprise our original wine dinner theme of "Zinfandel". We're starting our 12th year as a group this year.

On to the show.

Champagne to prime the palate...

• N.V. Krug Champagne Grande Cuvée - France, Champagne
  WIML91
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with medium and fairly steady beading. Nose has a dash of sherry up front followed by notes of apples and some biscotti. Flavors of crisp apples and a dash of cherry. Medium mousse. Drink over the short to medium term. (91 pts.)

Whites to numb the palate...

• 2005 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release - USA, California, Napa Valley
  WIML91
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of matchstick upon opening followed by some minerals then yellow apples, pears and a touch of citrus. Flavors of vanilla, creme, yellow apples and pears. Light to medium acidity, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
• 2006 Turley The White Coat - USA, California, Central Coast, San Luis Obispo County
  WIML89
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  Opened and served immediately. Yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of nectarine, wet stones and a pinch of cinnamon. Flavors of minerals with light persimmon notes. Light acidity, light to medium body. Drink over the short to medium term. One of the better White Coats I've had in recent memory. (89 pts.)

Zinfandels to kill the palate...

• 1997 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel St. Peters Church Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County
  WIML91
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  15.8% alcohol. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking towards center. Nose of Kirsch, smoke, boysenberry and a bit of white pepper. Flavors of currants, boysenberries and plums. Still fairly rich fruits on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins, full bodied. Drink now but I must admit I''m surprised by saying I think this wine still has life left in it and can probably hold at least over the short term. (91 pts.)
• 2004 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
  WIML91
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  14.7% alcohol. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of toast, currant, berries and a touch of smoke. Flavors of berries, cherries and boysenberry. Light to medium acidity, light to medium tannins, medium body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
• 2004 Howell Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel Beatty Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  WIML80
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  14.9% alcohol. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, slighty dusty looking towards center. Nose of melted black licorice, scorched earth and a mix of dark fruits. Flavors of plums and berries laying on top of a very hot finish. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Drink over the short term if you must. The alcohol on this wine is so out of whack it wasn't really palatable for me so I dumped it after one sip. Well call it WIML80 but that might be generous. (80 pts.)
• 2004 Mauritson Wines Zinfandel Growers Reserve - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
  WIML78
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  15.5% alcohol. Purple color in the glass. clear hue throughout. Nose of currants, a bit of balsamic, boysenberry and latex paint. Flavors of berries, dried plums and white pepper sitting on top of...you guessed it...a very hot finish. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink over the short to medium term. This wine is a hot, jumbled mess. Dumped after one sip. Do not put in mouth. (78 pts.)
• 2006 Frank Family Vineyards Zinfandel - USA, California, Napa Valley
  WIML90
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  15.0% alcohol. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roasted meat, black berries, plums and a tiny hint of jam. Rich and juicy flavors of currants, berries and a little blueberries on the medium finish. Medium acidity and tannins, full body. Drink or hold. Nice little Zinfandel. (90 pts.)
• 2004 Turley Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
  WIML90
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  16.0% alcohol. Opened and decanted a little over 2 hours before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose with a bit of leather up front followed by Oligenberry, jam and currant. Flavors of berries with a dash of balsamic on the medium finish. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (90 pts.)
• 2002 Rombauer Vineyards Zinfandel Proprietor Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley
  WIML85
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  15.5% alcohol. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. The nose on this wine is truly odd with an aroma I can't really place. While grasping for an aroma I first thought "Green Tomato Cake" followed simply by bunt cake followed ultimately by clarified butter. Truly odd. Palate was fine although simple berries throughout. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink now. Not sure how to rate this one because of the nose so we'll "split the difference" and call it WIML85 for the moment. (85 pts.)
• 2001 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  WIMLNR
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  14.9% alcohol. Opened and served immediately. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Truly bizarre nose for a Zinfandel with herbal notes, lychee, potpourri and menthol. Simple and straightforward fruits on the palate. Light acidity, resolved tannins, medium body. Drink now. I'd rate this wine pretty doggone low but all of the Martinelli sycophants would come out of the woodwork and berate me that I had an off bottle so I'll just decline rating it right up front.
• 2006 Turley Zinfandel Dusi Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
  WIML90+
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  16.4% alcohol. Opened and served i mmediately. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose has a little dried herbs and wet stones up front followed by some balsamic and black berry notes. Later picked up a graham cracker aroma. Flavors of boysenberry, black berries and currants. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (90 pts.)
• 2006 Turley Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  WIML91
  
  Tasted September 17, 2008 at an offline.
  
  15.9% Opened and served immediately. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of Kirsch, boysenberry, rose petals and like the Dusi graham cracker. Flavors of currants and boysenberries. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)