[wine] Every Day Zins SFGC

OK Warren, Her you go. BTW, co-workers tell me there's a "swine flu sale" on spare ribs at Rainbow or Cub. I see $2/lb at da 'bow. Cheers, Jim The Chronicle Recommends: Zinfandel $15 or less Lynne Char Bennett Sunday, May 10, 2009 More... California's claim to viniferous fame is Zinfandel, a grape variety first planted in the 19th century by immigrants. Nowhere else in the world is this grape so widely planted. Amador County, Dry Creek Valley, Lodi and Paso Robles are all regions where Zinfandel is a major player. This grape - a challenge to ripen evenly - is generally grown in warm climates where it may over-ripen. Fans of Zin's hedonistic style appreciate the full body, soft to minimal tannins and dark juicy berry aromas and flavors that can become jammy. There are increasingly more examples that serve as table wine, with lighter body and ripe fruit balanced with acidity. Along with everything else, the price of Zinfandel is rising. Prices upwards of $50 are not uncommon, though bottlings with the California appellation are usually affordable enough for everyday enjoyment. Our recommendations include both fruit forward and more restrained examples. 2007 Bogle Vineyards Old Vine California Zinfandel ($11) With a legacy of family farming since the mid-1800s, Warren Bogle and son Chris planted their first 20-acre vineyard in 1968, which has grown to 1,200 acres. Christopher Smith, director of winemaking, used fruit from dry-farmed 40- to 80-year-old vines located in Lodi and Amador County in this bottling. Deep, layered aromas of dark berry and cherry with hints of leather and spice; chocolate-covered cherry on a juicy palate without over-the-top jamminess. Good value. 2007 Joel Gott California Zinfandel ($15) Joel Gott, who is involved in a multitude of wine projects, bottles Zinfandel under several labels, including his eponymous value-priced line. Gott is another producer using old-vine fruit from Lodi and Amador County, which provides intensity and structure. Sonoma and Napa Valley grapes were added, making a wine with intense berry, black cherry and peppery spice with anise hints; lingering tart acidity on the finish. 2007 McManis Family Vineyards California Zinfandel ($11) Winemakers Jeff Runquist and Mike Robustelli execute the vision of fourth-generation family farmers Ron and Jamie McManis, who founded their winery in 1990. Lightly perfumed nose has ripe black cherry, bramble and briary fruit, with attractive spice/camphor hints. Sweet fruit flavors, light tannins and more reddish fruit on the long finish. Fermented in stainless steel then aged four to six months in new and used oak barrels. 2007 Ravenswood Vintners Blend California Zinfandel ($10) The best-known of Ravenswood's bottlings - the Vintners Blend from winemaker Joel Peterson - is made from California's traditional Zinfandel-growing regions. Its straightforward nose of both red and black fruit is underscored with a bit of loam and black cherry cola. Darker berry and cherry-ish palate, with modest tannins that would be good with a medium-rare burger. Blended with 24 percent other black grapes, including Carignane and Petite Sirah. 2007 Sobon Estate Old Vine Amador County Zinfandel ($14) This is Leon and Shirley Sobon's second winery, which they purchased in 1989 for their 30th anniversary. Like their original Shenandoah Vineyards, Sobon produces fruit-forward, low-tannin wines from sustainably farmed grapes. This old-vine bottling is deep, rich and extracted, involving aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry that follow on the full-bodied palate. Its acidity keeps it from going over the top. Includes 3 percent Petite Sirah. - Lynne Char Bennett, lbennett(a)sfchronicle.com http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/10/FDCV17E4UU.DTL This article appeared on page J - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle © 2009 Hearst Communications Inc. | Privacy Policy | Feedback | RSS Feeds | FAQ | Site Index | Contact -- ------------------------------ * Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, mobile : 651/645-0753 * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *