Summer Zinfandels; Earth ZIN & Fire, Oak Ridge OZV and Ravenswood Old Hill

Remember when you were young and summer meant 10 weeks of no school, less supervision and freedom to do what you want. I miss those days, as adults why can’t we have an entire season to just play, relax and have fun. I’m reclaiming my summer holiday and declaring part of my holiday be spent drinking Zinfandel wines. I’m throwing around a few names for my summer; The Summer of Zin, Zins of Summer, A Zinful Summer… ok, I’ll keep working on it but below are a few fabulous Zinfandels I have had the pleasure of drinking.

Earth, ZIN & Fire Jessie’s Grove Winery, Lodi, CA

I loved this zin, nose was full of oaky, red and black fruits. Spicy cassis, vanilla and cinnamon and a long finish consisting of plum makes this a spectacular wine.
Joseph Spenker, Jessie’s father, arrived in Lodi searching for the land where the oak trees grew the tallest. He planted the vineyards in 1888 in the Lodi and Stockton area of California when wheat was the reigning crop. Jessie Spenker, being an 1800’s natural environmentalist, set aside a 32 acre parcel and refused to develop the land. The oak grove, ranch and winery now bare Jessie’s name and the ranch is preserved to look the way it did in the 1800’s. If you happen to be in the area, stop by with a picnic lunch and watch the horses graze on the land. Found at Total Wine for $14.99.



Oak Ridge Winery OZV (Old Zin Vines) Zinfandel Lodi 2008
Nose is full of smoky cocoa, smooth mouthfeel with oak and bing cherry. Sugars hit mid-palate and finish is full of cherry, chocolate and earth flavors.
Oak Ridge Winery was founded in 1934 as a winemaker co-op for local growers. In 2001 Rudy Maggio and partners Don and Rocky Reynolds, purchased the winery and began an 8 year restoration. The partners retained the 50,000 gallon redwood tank that serves as the tasting room while adding modern winemaking technology.
Recognized as the oldest operating winery in Lodi, the region was established as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1996. Situated between the Sierra Nevada foothills and San Francisco Bay, the warm days and cool evenings create a Mediterranean like climate. These unique conditions offer enticing opportunities for new winemakers to set up “shop” while nurturing the environment. 95% Zinfandel, 5% Mixed Blacks. Another great Total Wine find for $10.99

2007 Ravenswood Old Hill Zinfandel Sonoma Valley

Aromas consisting of black berry, black pepper, earth and mint. Silky smooth flavors of coffee, plum, vanilla and a hint of herb in the finish. Exceptional balance and complexity. Rhone like in style, this wine will age beautifully for years to come.
Old Hill Ranch was founded in 1851 by William McPherson Hill. Importing non-mission grape varieties from Peru, Hill and General Vallejo owned an extensive amount of Sonoma vineyards. In 1889, Hill sold most of his land keeping two parcels, one of which is now Old Hill Ranch.
Fast forward to 19814 when Otto and Anne Teller purchased the land which had not been tended to in decades. The original house had burned to the ground and the vineyards were overgrown with black berry and poison oak. It was suggested the vines be ripped up and replanted, this did not sit well with Otto who understood the value and intense flavors these old vines could provide. After restoring life into the old vines, the vineyard began selling it’s grapes to Ravenswood in 1983.
Today the vineyards are tended to by the Bucklin family. I had the pleasure of visiting Old Hill Ranch and tasting the wine amongst those old Zinfandel vines. I can tell you, there is no greater pleasure than sipping wine amongst the very vines in which it was produced.
Varietal – 76% Zinfandel, 24% Mixed Blacks. This is the only Ravenswood Single Vineyard wine I have seen and purchased at Total Wine for $49.

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2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Dancing Bull Heraldsburg, CA, Merlot 2006

Sometimes I purchase my wine based on recommendations from other people. I believe it was my mother who spotted Dancing Bull while shopping at her local grocery chain in Boone, NC. If I remember correctly it was a BOGO offer, so when I came across the Merlot varietal in one of my local wine retailers, I decided to give it a try.

Aromas of ripe berries and a hint of oak. Blackberries and black cherry make up most of the flavor profile with a hint of raspberry mid-palate ending with a short finish. The wine is medium bodied and a little jammy but not too offensive. It’s a simple wine that’s not too heavy for summer drinking.

Here’s my major problem with this wine, it’s a sub-brand of the E&J Gallo portfolio. I still equate E&J with jug wine. I participated in a blind wine survey a few months back and at the end the participants received a 1.5 liter of Gallo Merlot. It took months before I opened the bottle and once I did, after a few sips, the wine went down the drain.

Enough of my Gallo rantings. Dancing Bull wines got its start when winemaker Eric Cinnamon began working with Zinfandel grapes in Lodi. After making his mark in the Zinfandel world, the winemaker expanded the varietals and in 2006 the first Dancing Bull Merlot was born.

I may just need to get over my prejudices against Gallo, Dancing Bull was a decent summer wine but I can’t see myself enjoying a glass in the fall or winter. But as the temps continue to rise, I find my wine choices adjusting so I may revisit this one again over the summer.

My rating - We'll drink the rest tomorrow.

2010© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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