On Sunday, July 18th a fairly small group gathered at Davidn’s place for this months installment of our regular BAWE tasting. As if to make up for the smaller number of attendees the bottles seemed to multiply, and by the time we were done there were 25 wines among 12 people! And we’re talking big, brawny and alcoholic Zinfandels! I’ve got to hand it to the team however, each and every one was up to the task

We started with a couple of Rosés, courtesy of Davidn:

2002 Sine Qua Non E° Rosé

2003 Pax Rosé of Syrah

We then moved on to the meat of the event, ZINFANDEL! Out of 25 Zins, a few really raised to the top. Wines where tasted blind. For me the top wines of the event were:

#1) 2001 Outpost Howell Mountain Zinfandel
#2) 2001 Turley Hayne Zinfandel
#3) 2002 Radio Coteau Von Weidlich Zinfandel

On to the notes. Scores given are group votes (1st place votes/2nd place votes, weighted score). Individual point scores following each note are my own, not the groups.

Flight #1
2001 Storybook Mountain Eastern Exposure Zinfandel
(1/8, 19 points) #2 wine of the flight

1999 Martinelli Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel
(0/0, 0 points)

2002 Lucia Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir
[I] (4/2, 16 points)

1998 Venge Scouts Honor (Zinfandel w/15% Charbono)
(0/0, 0 points)

2002 Rosenblum Carla’s Vineyard Zinfandel
(6/1, 20 points) #1 wine of the flight!

Flight #2

2001 Coturri Estate Zinfandel
(3/2, 13 points) #2 wine of the flight!

2001 Biali Napa Ranches Zinfandel
(0/1, 2 points)

2001 Hartford Highwire Zinfandel
(1/2, 7 points)

2000 Brochelle Zinfandel
(4/5, 22 points) #1 wine of the flight!

1998 Fritz Old Vines Zinfandel
(3/1, 10 points)

Flight #3

2001 Coturri Sonoma Valley Zinfandel
(1/1, 4 points)

2002 Martinelli Vigneto Di Evo Zinfandel
(6/3, 24 points) #1 wine of the flight!

1998 Elyse Morisoli Zinfandel
(4/2 16 points) #2 wine of the flight!

2002 Unti Dry Creek Zinfandel
(0/6, 12 points)

1999 Venge Scout's Honor
(1/0, 3 points)

Flight #4

2001 Turley Hayne Zinfandel
(1/2, 7 points)

2001 D-Cubed Black Sears Zinfandel
(4/2, 16 points)

2001 Turley Juveniles Zinfandel
(3/1, 11 points)

1995 Turley Duarte Zinfandel
(2/4, 14 points)

2000 Venge Late Harvest Zinfandel
(not included in the voting)

By flight #5 my notes had become too sparse to offer much with regard to detail, yet the wines were some of the top tasted on this afternoon. (we didn't vote on this last flight, with only three wines)

2002 Radio Coteau Von Weidlich Zinfandel

2001 Outpost Howell Mountain Zinfandel

2002 Ridge Buchignani Zinfandel

Just what I needed. More Zinfandels to buy. Thanks for all the notes Eric.

Eric, thanks for the notes. It was a very very long tasting.... by the fourth flight it was hard to separate the wines. I'm impressed you took notes on all those you did.

eric is a tn machine. great write up E.

Eric... in my next life - I want to be you!!!

Quote:

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It was a very very long tasting

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We had a great time -- just that there were so many wines to taste. When you brought out "the good stuff", my palate was overloaded. Overloaded in a good way, of course!