I've had the 7 Deadly Zins before I started blogging my tastings. Taking the opportunity that some friends gifted me a bottle, I thought I'd read up a little on Zin in my handy Oxford Wine Encyclopedia — revealing that the Zinfandel grape is from Croatia and that the grape has been grown in the U.S. since the mid-1850s in California.
On to the tasting…
Swirl, swirl: Oddly, the legs aren't producing. There they are…really, really fat and slow. I wonder if the Jet-Dry didn't wash all the way out of my glasses?! Side note: I recently read that legs really don't tell you much about a wine, as they're produced with any liquid that contains more than 12% alcohol.
Color: Bright red, not as purple as I'd expect from a 2005.
Nose: Lots of alcohol biting in my nose. Some vanilla, maybe even a corn/maize, tobacco. Not much berry or fruitiness.
Mouth: Sweet, sticky, medium body, some harshness from the alcohol at the back of the throat. Getting some strawberry and cherry flavors. Light tannins.
From Lodi Vineyards (map):
"Soft, supple pepper and licorice-clove notes merge into a sinful marriage of deep, brambly blackberries and lustful cherries. The finish is clean on the palate with hints of rich vanilla, cocoa, and mild tannins."
Cheers!
