Zinfandel » A Glass After Work

Octavin Wine Night at Lima

$21-$30, 2 Corks, 2.5 Corks, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 3 Responses »

Aug 032010

***I attended this event for free ***

Last Monday night, I attended a wine event at Lima Restaurant & Lounge in DC, where I not only tasted a number of Underdog Wine Merchants’ wines, all of which were in the Octavin Home Wine Bar box, but also met and talked with a number of fellow wine bloggers and tweeps.

2009 Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc

For most attendees, the evening started out with the 2008 Monthaven Winery Chardonnay, which I received as a sample earlier in the month. Therefore, I skipped tasting that wine and went straight for the 2009 Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc (website, snooth). The Silver Birch was 100% New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc grapes and had a pale lemon-yellow color. As I mentioned on Twitter, there was a great, citrusy nose—pink grapefruits and lemons. In the mouth, though, the wine could have offered a little more. It had a wetnap-like lemon taste and was missing the vegetal characteristics that make a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc so unique. The wine had a light body and medium-to-high acidity. At a suggested retail price of $24 for 3 Liters, the Silver Birch Octavin Home Wine Bar is definitely a cost effective way to have wine at a party, BBQ, or picnic. However, to be honest, buying this wine should more about cost and quantity than quality. It’s not a bad wine, but it’s not a great wine, either. Overall: 3 Corks

As I was finishing up my tasting notes on the Silver Birch, I started talking with Virginia Writing Wino, Ellen. Ellen only recently started wine blogging, so we had a wonderful time talking about how she started, Virginia wines (since that is her blog’s focus), and the Octavin wines, while eating Lima’s tasty beef and potato empanadas and to-die-for chicken and butter shrimp skewers.

2009 Big House White

The next wine of the night was the 2009 Big House White (website, snooth). The Big House White is a blend of 51% Malvasia Bianca, 14% Muscat Canelli, 13% Viognier, 10% Grüner Veltliner, 5% Pinto Gris, and 4% Riesling grapes. The wine was a very light straw yellow color. On the nose, there were white flower and honeysuckle blossoms, followed by a hint of stone fruit. In the mouth, there were flowers, stones fruits, and a touch of salinity and something metallic. Considering the sweetness of the nose, the wine was surprisingly dry. It had a light-to-medium body and low acidity. At a suggested retail price of $22 for 3 Liters, this wine just didn’t cut it for me. I wanted to like this wine, particularly after talking with artisan winemaker Georgetta Dane, who was at the event. Unfortunately, though, the wine felt a little flabby and lacked a strong personality. Overall: 2 Corks

Almost as soon as I finished my tasting notes for the Big House White, a couple walked up to me and asked if I was Alleigh. To my delight, I was face-to-face with Mark, from WineLife365, and his wife. Mark and I started blogging within months of each other, so a natural friendship has developed as our blogs have grown. While we have exchanged numerous emails and blog comments, this was the first time we met in real life, and I’m so glad that we had the opportunity.

After meeting Mark and his wife, I chatted briefly with LoganDC. Logan was another person at the event that I hadn’t met before, even though we’ve tweeted with each other on numerous occasions and have several wine friends in common. Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to do a live Twitter tasting in the near future.

Bodegas Osborne’s Seven

After talking with Logan, I skipped tasting the Big House Red, since I reviewed it a couple of weeks ago, and, instead, went for a glass of Bodegas Osborne’s Seven (winery, snooth). Seven is made with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 18% Syrah, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Tempranillo, 8% Grenache, and 8% Graciano grapes and had a medium-to-dark purple color. On the nose and in the mouth, there was smoked meat, smoked meat, and more smoked meat, followed by a hint of violets and berries. The wine had a medium body, medium tannins, and medium acidity. At a suggested retail price of $22 for 3 Liters, this wine was ok. I preferred the Big House Red, although several people I talked with throughout the night liked Seven better, so, clearly, the preference was up for grabs. Overall: 2.5 Corks

2008 Boho Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel

By this point in the night, I met back up with Mark and his wife, who were talking with DC Budget Wine Examiner, Rob, and we tasted the last of the wines—the 2008 Boho Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel (winery, snooth). The wine was a nice, dark purplish ruby. On the nose, there were dark berries and plums with a hint of cooking spice. In the mouth, there was berry jam and spice. At a suggested retail price of $24 for 3 Liters, this was my favorite wine of the night. It wasn’t unpleasantly jammy or overbearing in alcohol, which can sometimes be a problem with Zins, and while the wine didn’t offer anything different, it was decent. Overall: 3 Corks.

After the event, Mark, his wife, and I were fortunate enough to eat dinner at Lima with Cork’d gurus, Lindsay and Jon, and Patricia Schneider Associates marketing wizards, Patricia and Shelia. The food mirrored the excellent appetizers that were served during the event and the service was impeccable. The group’s conversation flowed over the delicious ceviches, guava-glazed BBQ ribs, lobster baked with mango-lime butter, and mussels in an Albariño, lime, cilantro and chili sauce. Before any of us realized, it was midnight and time to head our separate ways.

2008 Big House Red being poured at Lima Restaurant & Lounge

Overall, the event was wonderful. I had a chance to see the Octavin Home Wine Bar in action, taste some new reds and whites, eat fabulous food, and meet wine bloggers and tweeps that I’ve been corresponding with for over a year. Thanks to Stephen from Patricia Schneider Associates for inviting me to attend as a guest. I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to meet, but I had a great time and really appreciated the opportunity.

A Storybook With Vampires

$41-$50, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 3 Responses »

Jul 222010

2007 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Eastern Exposure Zinfandel

Sunday was one of those unfortunate days where I spent much of my day off working. I thought last week would be the end of my crazy work schedule, but Friday before I left work, an unexpected issue came up, and suddenly Sunday turned into almost a full 8-hour workday. By the time the evening came around, I was exhausted and looking forward to an evening of cuddling on the couch with Hubby while watching the one TV show that we watch together, our embarrassing guilty pleasure—True Blood.

The 2007 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Eastern Exposure (winery, snooth) was a dark, vibrant purple. On the nose, there was a spiced berry jam, reminiscent of Hostess fruit pie filling. In the mouth, there were blueberries, blackberries, cooking spices, and a hint of strawberries and flower petals. The wine had high acidity, high alcohol, medium tannins, and a medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $45, this wine is on the pricey end, but worth the cost. It paired perfectly with Hubby’s steamed shrimp spiced with Old Bay seasoning, while also holding its own through a steamy night with Vampire Bill, Eric Northman, and Sookie Stackhouse. The bad things on True Blood are right out of a novel, but only good things were coming from the bottle of Storybook. And both were incredibly enjoyable and exactly what I need at the end of a long Sunday before the start of a busy week.

Overall: 4 Corks

Putting On My Zinfandel Dancing Shoes

$10 and lower, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

May 202010

Last Friday was a rough workday for me. I’d missed a Thursday night “reunion” happy hour with former coworkers because I had to work late, and from what my current coworkers told me on Friday morning, it was a bad happy hour to miss. There were some good stories and fun times had by everyone who attended. After catching up on all the gossip, I tackled my most recent project with a determination to make a significant dent in the rapidly growing pile on my desk. When Hubby text messaged me halfway through the day to say that he was going out with some of his friends and that it would probably be a late night for him, I quickly paused to respond that he should have a good time and then went back to my task at hand. By the time the day was over on Friday, I was exhausted, although I’d accomplished a lot. I left the office a little later than usual, particularly for a Friday, but since I was on my own, that was ok. With the severe thunderstorms that were happening in the DC area that night, I decided to keep things simple by going to the local 7-11 on my walk home from the Metro, where I meant to purchase dinner, but walked out with an inexpensive bottle of wine.

2008 Dancing Bull Zinfandel

The 2008 Dancing Bull Zinfandel (winery, snooth) was a medium-to-dark ruby color. On the nose, there was blueberry jam, blackberry, and black cherry aromas, followed by a lot of cedar, smoke, earth, and vanilla. In the mouth, there was IHOP syrup (although without the viscosity), blueberries, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla. The wine had low tannins, and high acidity and alcohol.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $10, this wine surprised me. As it was a wine that I purchased at the 7-11, I didn’t expect much complexity and figured it would be simply passable. Was it the best Zin I’ve ever had…no. But considering that I was “slumming it” when I purchased the bottle, it was a very drinkable, had a number of things happening both on the nose and on the palate, was very food-friendly. The wine not only went well with my Thai takeout, but also was a nice pairing with my night of knitting and cheesy chick flick.

Overall: 3 Corks

A Zinfandel That Rocked My World

$21-$30, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 3 Responses »

Apr 282010

***I received this wine as a sample***

2007 Earthquake Zinfandel

I finished my 2nd big project in two weeks this past Wednesday, and while I’m always anxious right before a deadline, everything turned out really well. There were definitely a few hiccups along the way, but in the end, both my supervisor and “the big boss” were happy. After spending the rest of the afternoon catching up on the emails and paperwork that piled up, for the first time in a couple of weeks, I was able to leave work on time. I admit that I jumped at the chance, and waiting for me when I walked in the door was a nice dinner and a good bottle of Zinfandel.

The 2007 Earthquake Zinfandel (winery, snooth) was a medium-to-dark purplish ruby. On the nose, there were blueberries, blackberries, nutmeg, cloves, and alcohol followed by a touch of cinnamon, vanilla, and earth. In the mouth, there were blueberries, boysenberries, blackberries, and baking spices, mixed with vanilla, earth, and alcohol. The wine had medium tannins and a medium-to-full, velvety body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $28, drinking this wine is like having a delicious piece of suede slide caress your throat. I’ve reviewed a couple of other wines from Michael David Winery, one that I purchased and one that was sent as a sample, and while I enjoyed them both, it’s definitely worth spending the extra money to buy the Earthquake. The wine is smooth and delicious on its own, but when paired with cheese ravioli in tomato sauce and garlic bread, it practically sings.

Overall: 4 Corks

Mission Accomplished: Wine Guerrilla Stikes Again

$21-$30, 3.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 1 Response »

Mar 122010

*** I received this wine as a sample***

As part of my new job, I often have the opportunity to join several of my colleagues from other offices on conference panels to talk about the work we’re currently doing and to provide some insight into what future projects may look like. Monday morning, I started off the week on one of these panels, talking to a group of about 1500 people. Admittedly, I was not thrilled about starting off the week with a presentation, but I love talking on the topic. Each panelist gave a short, 3-minute overview before the moderator started a question and answer session. During the 45 minutes of discussion, there were 3 applause interruptions, 2 of which were in response to something I said. While that was flattering and I left the conference with a good feeling, I didn’t think more of it. My boss was speaking to the same group on Tuesday morning, so my focus was in preparing him for his speech. I was taken aback when I learned that not only did people come up to him after his speech, but also were emailing and calling his office to tell him that they thought I gave a great presentation. Receiving that type of praise, particularly at a new job, is invaluable, so, to celebrate a great start to the week, I went home and opened a fun bottle of wine to help end the day on as good of a note as the week started.

2007 Wine Guerrilla Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

The 2007 Wine Guerrilla Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel (website, snooth) was made with 85% Zinfandel, 6% Malbec, 4% Petite Sirah, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Alacante Bouchet grapes. The wine had a deep ruby color, with a purple hue. On the nose, there were baked blueberries and blackberries mixed with a spice cabinet full of cinnamon, cloves, and a hint of ginger. In the mouth there were berries and spices, plus a little bit of cocoa dust and something herbaceous. The wine had good tannins, medium acidity, and a medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $22, the wine offers what you expect from a California Zin. It was initially a little hot in the mouth, which was a little distracting, but, in general, it’s a food-friendly wine that pairs perfectly with BBQ short ribs, while also being enjoyable on its own.

This is the second bottle of wine that I’ve had from Wine Guerrilla (click here for my review of the 2007 Goat Trek Vineyard ‘Block 6′ Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel), and I continue to be happy with the wines. Wine Guerrilla’s mission is to take the best Zinfandel grapes in California and create a wine that epitomizes the true character of a “California Zinfandel,” and the spiced, baked berries in the 2007 Dry Creek Valley definitely accomplish that mission. Added to the fine artistry of the wine is the distinctive creativity of the labels, which are designed by Los Angeles artist Sean Colgin’s labels. With the wine and labels put together, Wine Guerrilla has created an enjoyable Zinfandel-drinking experience.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

A Zinful Zin

$11-$20, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 3 Responses »

Feb 032010

Last Wednesday was the President’s State of the Union (SOTU) address, and while I don’t generally give details about my “day job,” many of you know that I work in the political arena. Therefore, the day of the SOTU was a busy one, as I speculated on and answered questions about what would be included, not to mention trying to figure out what it would mean for me in my new job if all of the rumors were true. After a busy of day, which included working a bit later than usual, I headed home to make a quick and easy dinner for Hubby and me and open a bottle of Zinfandel, since Zins are one of my favorite types of wine when it’s particularly cold outside. There’s just something about the spicy, jamminess of a good Zinfandel that warms me up. After dinner, I refilled my glass, grabbed my blackberry, and tuned in to watch the President.

The 2007 7 Deadly Zins (winery, snooth) was a deep, deep ruby. On the nose, there were raspberries, blueberry jam, nutmeg, cedar, spices, earth, pine needles, and ferns. In the mouth, there were raspberries, vanilla, cedar, and a touch of cola, pine needles, and earth. The wine was super acidic with medium tannins.

Unsurprisingly, this wine, which has a catchy name and label, has been reviewed by a number of my favorite blogs, including this review on luxury blog Luxist, this review on wine blog CheapWineRatings.com, this review on wine blog Wine Life 365, and this review on wine blog Wine Harlots. As you can you see from the other write-ups, there are mixed feelings about this 7 Deadly Zins, so if you’ve had a chance to taste it yourself, I’d love to know what you think.

As for me, Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $15, on it’s own, the wine was fine, although nothing particularly special. The beautiful nose led me to expect a luscious wine that I could sink into while watching the SOTU address, and it didn’t quite live up to those expectations. However, when paired with a soy-sesame marinated steak, the spiciness of the wine complimented the steak perfectly (for you regular readers, you’re probably tired of me pairing wine with a soy-sesame marinated, but I absolutely love it!). In general, it was a decent, enjoyable wine. You could definitely do worse.

Overall: 3 Corks

Back to Work with a California Zin

$11-$20, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 1 Response »

Jan 202010

2010 has started off as a crazy, but fun year. The first week of the New Year was a busy one at work because everyone was ready to jump right into the next big set of projects after having time off for the holidays. After that first week of planning, though, I was out of the office on vacation. Hubby and I went to Antigua for a week of warm, tropical weather and beautiful, sandy beaches. We had a great time relaxing, reading, sightseeing, and, in the middle of it all, celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary. I even had a chance to taste 3 of Sandals (& Beaches) resorts limited edition wines, which I’ll review in a separate post. Unfortunately, since Hubby and I haven’t won the lottery and we’re not independently wealthy, we were both back to work yesterday. I came back to work to find an overloaded email box, reports that need to be read and commented on, meeting requests that need to be answered, and several speaking engagements that require preparation. I absolutely love my job, but no matter how much I love it, the first day back from vacation was simply not fun. I ended up staying a little late to make sure things were organized, but, after that, I was ready to go home, open a comforting bottle of wine, eat dinner, and just crash on the couch. My bottle of Lolonis Zinfandel was practically calling my name.

The 2005 Lolonis Zinfandel (winery, snooth) was made with organically grown Zinfandel grapes, where ladybugs (not chemicals) were used for pest control. The wine had a medium-to-dark ruby color with big legs that clung to the side of the glass. On the nose, there were big, juicy blackberries and dark plums, followed cedar, smoke, and a touch of earthiness. In the mouth, the wine had a spiciness that turned into blackberry jam, with a touch of smoke on the finish. The wine was very dry, with low-to-medium acidity and medium tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one! What are you waiting for? At $18, the Lolonis was a solid, affordable Zinfandel that perfectly paired with grilled steak. On its own, it was enjoyable, although it could have used a touch more body. However, when paired with a soy-sesame marinated steak (the marinade recipe is from Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything), and the wine left me practically giddy with happiness. It was the perfect pairing, as the combination toned down a little of the spiciness in the wine, while helping make the berry flavors in the wine and the soy sauce flavor of the marinade stand out.

A special thanks to my in-laws for introducing me to the wine! The bottle was part of my Christmas present, and they definitely picked a wine that I will buy again.

Overall: 4.5 Corks

A Storybook Day & A Storybook Wine

$31-$40, 2.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Nov 192009

My second week had a phenomenal start. On Tuesday morning, I was sitting in my office, listening to my favorite NY radio station on the Internet, drinking my coffee, reading the morning work news, and loving my job. Sure, things were crazy (the rapidly approaching holidays, a special condo board meeting that night, my project deadline looming at the end of the week, deliverables for my school group project due Thursday night, and the final term paper for my class due Monday), but I felt good. I only belong to one wine club—Storybook Mountain Vineyards—and I was able to pick-up the latest shipment before heading home. When I walked into the condo, still glowing from the fact that my commute is 10-15 minutes shorter every day, I couldn’t help but gush about everything to Hubby before collapsing on the couch with a glass of wine. Could life be any better?

The 2006 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Estate Reserve Zinfandel (vineyard) was a deep ruby with a garnet rim. The wine smelled like a warm, baking spice cabinet, mixed with big, juicy blackberries and blueberries. There was also a hint of mulch and earth. In the mouth, there were nice spices and berries, but they were mixed with prunes. The wine had high acidity and medium tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? Eh…if you have a bottle on hand, drink it, but I wouldn’t go searching it out either. At $35, I was expecting lusciousness like I found in the 2007 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Mayacamas Range. Instead, the 2006 Estate Reserved tasted more like prune juice and less like jammy goodness. I hate to say this, but this wine was a bit of a disappointment. If you’re looking for a great Zin from Storybook Mountain, a I do mean a GREAT Zin, skip over this one and grab their 2007 Mayacamas Range; it will be everything you want from a California Zinfandel…and more.

Overall: 2.5 Corks

A Halloween Zin

$11-$20, 2.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Oct 292009

Originally, I was hoping for a quiet final two weeks at my current job. There are a couple of projects that I want to finish out, but otherwise, my plan was to spend the time getting things in order for my replacement. My predecessor put together an incredibly helpful document before she left. It outlined all of the projects that she was working on before she left and one what projects were likely to come up over my first year, along with commentary on how my boss felt about each project. It was invaluable, and I was hoping to create a similar one before I go. So far, though, I haven’t even had a chance to think about it. Tuesday, for example, was packed with back-to-back meetings, emergency emails, and phone calls that needed to be returned. I ended up staying late again, and by the time I finally left, I was exhausted. That said, I wasn’t too tired to enjoy the couple of little kids wearing Halloween costumes on the Metro. Their ghoulishness reminded me that I had two bottles of wine that I specifically bought for Halloween waiting for me when I got home. While I try to pretend that I’m not a sucker for a good wine label, over the weekend, I couldn’t resist buying wine that I thought fit with the spirit of holiday, and Tuesday was the perfect night to start getting into the mood.

The 2006 Cardinal Zin (wine group, snooth) was a medium ruby color with flecks of garnet, particularly on the rim. On the nose, there were aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and dried tea leaves. In the mouth, there were blackberry, sour cherry, smoke, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger flavors, with a hint of burnt match on the finish. The wine had low tannins and very high acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? Eh…if you have a bottle on hand, drink it, but I wouldn’t go searching it out either. At $17, the Cardinal Zin offered a fun, spooky label and a somewhat soulless wine. It had the berry flavors that I expect in a Zinfandel, but without the jamminess that I love. I tried drinking the wine on it’s own, and it lacked the special something that makes me want to go back for a second glass. I paired the wine with some grilled chicken, as that often is a pairing that brings out the true character of a Zin, but the match just didn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a wine that I would dump down the sink, but it’s not a wine that I would search out either. That said, several bloggers that I highly respect and normally agree with, such as Wine Harlots, had a different experience, so not everyone shares my lack of enthusiasm. That difference in wine preference is part of what makes the wine world go round.

Overall: 2.5 Corks

Taste the Wine Guerilla Revolution

$21-$30, 3.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 4 Responses »

Sep 302009

*** I received this wine as a sample***

This wine and I have a frustrating bit of history, as Fed Ex was being very difficult about delivering it to me. After 4 separate delivery attempts and numerous phone calls to Fed Ex Customer Service, the wine finally arrived, but between my Spanish wine course, work events, and various other obligations, it spent a month in my wine rack taunting me. So, on Thursday, after a workday that was stacked with back-to-back meetings and a few unexpected fire drills, it was with great excitement that it was finally my chance to crack open the bottle.

Wine Guerilla collects prime Zinfandel grapes and uses them to craft a wine that he feels accentuates the unique characteristics of the California Zinfandel. The bottles have unique and memorable labels, which are designed by Los Angeles artist, Sean Colgin, and the wines are produced and bottled by David Coffaro Vineyards & Winery.

The 2007 Goat Trek Vineyard ‘Block 6′ Dry Creek Valley (website, snooth) was made with 87% Zinfandel, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petite Sirah grape, and only 341 cases were produced. It was a deep ruby with a purple hue. The aromas were very pronounced and dominated by baked blackberries and blueberries. There were also cherry, raspberry, cloves, and cinnamon aromas, along with the slightest hint of ginger. In the mouth, the berry and spice mixture had an almost pie filling-like taste that was combined with cocoa dust and something herbaceous. The wine was a little hot, but had medium acidity and tannins, as well as a good, substantial body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $25, this is a reasonably priced, good quality wine. It’s the type of wine that has a nice complexity for the experienced wine taster to puzzle through, while also being approachable to the everyday wine drinker. Admittedly, I drank most of the wine on its own while curled up on my couch catching up on my TiVo’d shows, but it would be a great wine to pair with beef chili, BBQ ribs, or grilled chicken.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

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