Chances are, if you're reading this blog, you've had more than one close encounter with a dashingly handsome Zinfandel. For this week I am treating myself to a good friend, a
2008 Ridge Top Reserve Zinfandel from Brochelle Vineyards
in Paso Robles, California. Unlike a lot of other wines I write about, I know quite a bit about this varietal and this vintner in particular. It was their 2006 Zin that first captured my attention and started my love of wines.
The name Zinfandel was created in California and is viewed by many to be the unofficial national grape. This is as American a wine as it gets.
According to my history books, it was discovered only a few years ago that Zinfandel was part of an ancient lineage originating in Croatia. Now nearly extinct in it's homeland, it is grown almost exclusively in California. And get this, the grape was exported to the Southeastern regions of Italy where it was renamed yet again and become a staple of the region's wine production.
For those extreme wine novices, it is important to point out that I am not referring to White Zinfandel, which is created mostly from the remains of grapes and stems that have fallen to the floor of vast processing warehouses and pumped out to the blind masses for consumption.
No, no, no! Zinfandel is a wondrous varietal that easily contends with the heavy hitters like Pinot Noir, Cabernet, and ~ dare I say ~ Bordeaux. It is the underdog of the wine world and parallels perfectly with the American story.
Zin goes well with any meal but it's quick to satisfy elixir pairs well at festive occasions like family bbqs, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This versatile red is best described as dry with spicy, fruity attributes. Vanilla, blackberry, cherry, black pepper, and cloves are typical flavors and aromas represented in most Zinfandels today, though they can very widely depending on regions and method of production.
My personal favorites are more California's Central Coast, Paso Robles being ground zero for prime zin fields. Although in truth there are probably just as many good zins in every wine region of California. Brochelle Vineyards is a small family vintner that tediously oversees each and every aspect of the wine making process. They produce only a few varietals and at very small batches; typically no more than 1,500 cases each year. And unlike 99% of others on the market, their Zinfandel is made to last; they can easily age for a good 15-20 years. It's very important to note that most zins do not age well and are expressly made for immediate enjoyment (1-3yrs).
If you'd like to learn more about Zinfandel, visit the Zinfandel Advocates & Producer's (ZAP) guide here.
