Are you a fan of snappy, back-talking zins or do you prefer those of the gallant, well-mannered persuasion? These extremes and everything in-between will be poured at the 19th annual ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) Tasting this Saturday at San Francisco’s Fort Mason.
In light of this colossal pool of zin to be poured Saturday, I did a blind preview tasting. With 300-plus wines sent in, I was determined to taste at least one zin from every winery.
Our Wine of the Week (WOW) winner is the 4-star rated Ridge, 2007 Geyserville California Zinfandel, $35, (14.4 percent alcohol.) You may wonder how it earned WOW status since many zins out-scored it with a 4.5 star rating. Good question. Our WOW pick is always chosen after considering several factors — availability, price point and star rating.
If you’re priming your palate for ZAP, check out this list of honking good zins.
4.5 star rated zins:
Robert Biale Vineyards, 2007 Stagecoach Vineyards, $44, (15.5 percent alcohol).
Amapola Creek, 2007 Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, $40, (16 percent).
McNab Ridge, 2007 Mendocino, $18 (14.7 percent).
Easton, 2006 Fiddletown Old Vine Zin, $28, (14.5 percent).
Four Vines “Biker,” 2007 Paso Robles, $25, (15 percent).
Sbragia Family Vineyards, 2006 La Promessa, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, $32, (15.5 percent.)
4-star zins:
Claudia Springs, 2006 Valenti Ranch Zin, $28, (17.8 percent.)
Wilson, 2007 Carl’s Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley Reserve, $44, (15.6 percent.)
Carol Shelton “Wild Thing,” 2006 Cox Vineyard, Mendocino County, $28, (14.9 percent).
Gundlach Bundschu, 2007 Sonoma Valley, $38, (14.8 percent.)
Hendry, 2006 Hendry Blocks, 7 & 22, Napa Valley, $30, (15.6 percent).
Renwood, 2007 Grandmere, Amador County, $30, (15.5 percent).
Alderbrook, 2007 Dry Creek Valley, $19, (14.9 percent).
Rock Wall, 2007 Sonoma County Reserve, $35, (15.8 percent).
Haywood, 2007 Rocky Terrace Los Chamizal, Sonoma Valley Vineyards, $38, (15.3 percent.)
3.5 star zins
Seghesio, 2008 Sonoma County, (15.5 percent).
Rosenblum Cellars, 2007 Rockpile Road Vineyard, (15.3 percent).
Ravenswood, 2007 Old Hill Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, (14.8 percent).
Artezin, 2007 Dry Creek Valley, (14.8 percent).
Frank Family Vineyards, 2007 Napa Valley, (15 percent).
BR Cohn, 2007 Sonoma Valley, (15.1 percent).
Acorn, 2006 Alegria Vineyards, Russian River Valley, (14.8 percent).
Cline, 2007 Sonoma Valley, (16 percent).
Clos La Chance, 2006 Central Coast, (16 percent.)
Kenwood, 2007 Jack London Sonoma Valley, $20, (14.5 percent.)
Terra D’ Oro, 2006 Amador County, (14.5 percent).
Tune in Thursday if you’re a zin-fanatic strapped for cash. That blog will focus on high-ranking budget zins priced at $20 and under.
