OK, a buddy of mine is finally getting in to Zinfandels. He's looking to explore the varietal and wants to get hi sfeet wet. He asked me for some suggestions, but everything I came up with was stuff that was generally mailing list only or difficult/imporrible to find in our area (DC metro).

So, what recommendations could you dudes make for some generally widely available Zins, say, in the $35 and less range, for a newbie Zin dude?

Grazie!

Every time this topic comes up, I suggest the Seghesio line. The basic Sonoma Zin is like $12. The Home Ranch and Old Vines are less than $30. Both are well worth it.

Some names that I buy regularly are:
Hendry Block 7
Rosenblume
Hartford

Yep basically a combination of what has been suggested...

Seghesio
Rosenblum
Hartford

That would be a nice start. If there is any additional interest then it is definitely mailing list/order direct from the winery time in order to get some of the better wines.

Definitely Hartford.

Quote:

---

So, what recommendations could you dudes make for some generally widely available Zins, say, in the $35 and less range, for a newbie Zin dude?

---

Wow, TJ, so many choices!

For wines available in the DC Metro area, here are my picks:

2002 Neyers Tofanelli Zin ($40 at Dean and Deluca in Gtown)
2002 Neyers Pato Zin ($32-$35 available everywhere)
2001/2 Rosenblum Carla's Vineyard ($30 available everywhere)
2002 Rosenblum Continente ($20-$24 available everywhere)
2001/2 Seghesio Old Vines or Home Ranch ($27 available many places)
2002 C&G Something ($25 available at Schneider's)
2001/2 Hendry Block 7 or Block 28 Zin ($28 available many places)
2000 Ridge Lytton Springs ($33 you can still occasionally see some on a shelf)

a

Rosenblum ( Carla's, Monte Rosso, Continente all very good and available)
Hartford
Seghesio (Home Ranch or Old Vines)
Ridge (Lytton Springs, Geyserville or Pagani Ranch)

I think the best Zin to "start" is Rosenblum. It is widely available, not expensive and they make many different bottlings. I'd suggest buying two or three different ones and try them at the same time so he/she can see which way his/her taste leans.

Hartfords
Turleys
Carlisles
Martinellis

Seghesio
Hartford
Sausal
Hendry
Marrietta
Rancho Zabaco Dry Creek
Rosenblum
Steele Pacini Vineyard
Neyers Tofanelli
Ridge Lytton Springs

Personally, I got hooked on Ridge Zin first, so Lytton Springs, Paso Robles, I think York Creek is 70% zin and 30% PS, etc. Very reasonably priced zins and the grapes are from all over. The other cool thing about Ridge is you can join their Z club or the ATP and get really cool stuff sent to you directly.
I REALLY REALLY liked Hendry's block 28 a couple years back. Plus, Hendry was just such a likeable old guy, you want to buy wine from him just to support him. Too many jerk-offs selling wine now.

DREW

What about Renwood? Then he could get a taste of the Amador terroir and I see it pretty much everywhere out here and they have multiple bottlings from $15 on up.

When i was in MD in March I picked up some Green and Red Zin and some Lolonis so I know those are available too.

Cheers!

Agree 100% with davidn. The Rosenblum single vineyard bottlings can found for under $20. Marietta is in the $14 range.

I, like many of the others, have suggested Rosenblum as a good winery to seek out for Zin. For me, however, this is a relatively new discovery. It is only starting with the '01 vintage that I have really discovered Rosenblum. My question, then, is this: was I missing out in '99 and earlier vintages, or has Rosenblum risen to the task in the past couple of vintages?

a

You've been missing out. Kent Rosenblum has been cranking out tasty Zins in commercial quantities since at least 1990.

Rosenblum story

But you really don't want to seek out any older vintages of Zinfandel. 99% of it is meant to be consumed within two years or less after it is released.

There are some Zins that will age very well but they are few and far between IMO. The only ones that I have had that I like "old" are the Turley Hayne and Martinelli Jackass HILL. I don't know about Outpost but it seems like it may have the balls to age too.

I had a Rosenblum Zin, maybe three years ago, and was not impressed. But my palate was wahat it was back then and it is what it is right now, so who knows?

Thanks MUCHO to all of you who made suggestions. I will pare this info down in to a list and shoot it off to my pal and he'll get busy buying some Zin.

No Robert Biale fans out there? Hard to beat for the prices and you can get on their mailing list.

Agree with davidn and stemor.

WDoT, I like Biale's Zins, but the single vineyard ones were over $30, I thought. Actually, I've only had them in restaurants, but they're $55 and up.

We just received a Biale postcard, I've never tried them but may give them a try.

I agree with the Rosenblum wines, and Kent is a great guy! If you have the opportunity some time, check out one of the Rosenblum open houses. It's a great chance to try "all" of the Rosenblum wines in one location and you can take a tour of the winery.