Coolezt Label Zo Far - Wednezday's Wine Taztopolis

Name: Zinopolis Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel (red)

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2014

Price: $9.99 (on sale from $19.99)


Critic Review: Unfortunately the only 2014 vintage review I could find was a short, lame review that looked like it was from another student, so I'm posting thirstyGirl's review of the 2012 vintage followed by the label notes from the producer. Here's what thirstyGirl said about the 2012 version of Zinopolis Zinfandel:

I really enjoyed Zinopolis. It can have a really boozy taste if you don’t let the wine aerate long enough, but overall it tasted very delicious. We all have different palates, and I tend to enjoy a heavier, spicy and oaky wine, versus a sweeter milder one. In my opinion, Zinopolis falls more on the sweeter side, but it has such a nice balance of pepper and oak, that the sweeter parts make the wine very balanced. ~http://www.confessiongirl.com/thirstygirl-zinopolis-wine-review/#.V1iudyE5TIA

From the vintners: The vines have crept into the crevices of flavor and climbed their way to ambrosial heights, their chameleon-like character providing the perfect guide to conquer the ordinary world of wine with an extraordinary world of taste. Welcome to Zonopolis, a place where your palate reigns supreme and Zinfandel is always on the menu. Uncork the mystery of this exquisite wine beaming with peppery tones and underlying sweetness. Indulge in the aromas of sun-dried cherries and blackberry spice as each sip slowly mesmerizes your senses. Zinopolos, destination taste.

My review: I'm still learning the language and training my nose and brain, obviously, but here goes! Upon first scent I thought I noticed blackberries and perhaps something grassy - dry or fresh? Not certain. As usual, I tasted without food and tried to take my time more than I have in previous tastings. The astringent mouth feel was not quite unpleasant but gave me the impression that this wine was going to be better with food. The taste reinforced my berry impression, and, as I mentioned I'm still learning the language, the main thing I could think of was blackberries or perhaps some other wild berry with woody stems. This wine was clearly much fuller-bodied than the whites I tasted recently, but how it compares to other reds remains to be seen. I confess I didn't notice the pepper but when reading thirstyGirl's review and seeing the word, YES, the pepper stands out - I just couldn't place it.

After the solo tasting, I drank it with my supper, which was browned ground beef mixed with beef-flavored Rice-a-Roni. The pairing was actually very good. I enjoyed the wine much more with the food than without. Since there wasn't enough dinner left for a second helping, I ate some cheese with the wine as a follow-up. The medium cheddar didn't pair well and the fontina was ok. I'm thinking a sharper cheese would pair better. Perhaps for the next Zin I try.