I am in a wine group that favors "Industrial Strength" zins (or maybe a petite syrah). They want something bold and strong. One of the perennial favorites of the group is Nyers.
The expected price range when you show up with a bottle for the evening is $15 - 20 (US dollars, Midwest USA). Any suggestions for what I should bring next time?
About two weeks ago I had a 2001 Rombauer El Dorado Zindandel -- it was fantastic. One of the best zinfandels I've had. It was real big and fruity -- 15.5% alcohol content -- with decent structure. It was about USD22.00.
My favorites are Ridge Geyserville and Ridge Lytton Springs. Both are around USD30.00, depending on the vintage -- they both have a little more structure, less overpowering, and more elegant than the Rombauer. I also liked a 2001 Turley Juvenile I had recently (USD26 -- but much harder to find.). I have a 2001 Turley Old Vines (USD29) that I'm going to hold a little.
Enjoy the group -- it sounds like a lot of fun.
Rob Adelson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have some 1999 Petite Syrah from Behrens & Hitchcock. I just tried the first bottle recently expecting it to be not quite ready, but it surprised me and was not only drinkable but very tasty indeed. It might be a good change of pace after being mugged in the alley by the Nyers
Petite Syrah doesn't seem to be much discussed in this newsgroup. Anyone have one they can reccomend?
Regards,
Kent Feiler snipped-for-privacy@KentFeiler.com
The king of industrial strength wines in general probably was David Bruce in the old days. I have not had his wines in many years, but I understand he started making most of his wines in a more restrained manner than in the past. Several of his old late harvest Zinfandels were nearly of Port strength and had enough tannin to tan leather. Some would round out after several years. He made a dry Riesling containing over 16 percent alcohol that nearly would sear your tonsils.
My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net from my email address. Then add snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com . I do not check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.
Industrial strength, eh? How about some of Renwood's Zins? The Grandpere is out of your price range, but some of the others would fit.
Mark Lipton
Not to sound like a broken record but... Turley's P.S. is amazing. I recently had a 1999 T-Vines that was also impressive, but hard to find.
I too am a huge Zin fan. I really enjoy the over the top, "industrial strength" zins that are our there. Unfortunately, I am drawing a blank on ones for under $20.00.
The few that come to mind are: Dry Creek - Heritage Clone 99 and 2001 Balentine Zin 99 and 2001, 2000 is ok as all
In the less than $30 range are: Tres Sabores (spelling) Carole Shelton - Wild Things Turley Old Vines and Juvie
If you really want to blow peoples minds, and I mean cause a melt down... call Martinelli, ask for Lindsey and see if she'll ship you a bottle or two of Giuseppe and Louisa 2001 I split a bottle with 2 other people once and thought I was going to start hallucinating (it was the 99)... it is so big and so high alcohol, yet balanced... good stuff.
-N
While I think this wine is a good value, I find it's attraction lies in the more balanced sedate style of Zin- it wouldn't be what I'd recommend to someone looking for "industrial strength". Mark's Renwood rec is probably closest at price range.
Dale
Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply
Ditto. Loads of good zin under $20, but the really powerful stuff is a bit more spendy. Best I've had below $30 (it was on sale at $28 or something) is Ravenswoods '99 Old Hill. Ravenswood was a bit of a letdown in '00, but if other producers early releases are any indicator their '01's single vineyard releases are going to be definite buys.
D.
Norman "Monster Zin". $19, if you can find it. I bet many folks won't have had it.
Dimitri
Anyone tried A. Rafanelli zins? I've seen a few 2000s around lately and I've been tempted.
Rob Adelson
I hate to followup my own post, but where are you buying Neyers for $15?
Dimitri
Well, every now and then some of the more generous of the group show up with something above the price range. Sometimes it is something they bought in the price range that is now above it. Sometimes, they just want to bring a great wine.
I have some here in the house. I didn't even realize I bought any. I guess I am in for a treat. 15.4% alcohol content, according to the bottle. I also picked up some of Midnight's Syrah. Like many places in Paso Robles, their wines are hit-and-miss. Mr. Norman (mentioned above) says that distributors "cherry pick", which he doesn't agree with. It makes sense to do so, though. Often the wineries only have one or two stars amid a line-up of a dozen wines. The Zin and the Syrah were my choices at Midnight.
Dimitri
Good list, Mark (well, don't think I've had JC or Rockland,and unsure re Rosenblum, but Carlisle and Biale are good, and you can extrapolate based on others' Zins). I might add the Lava Cap Granite Hill PS, a fairly recent discovery for me. Foppiano and Ridge can be very good, of course. And the Bogle can be a good deal - if not the best PS around, it's a nice hamburger wine in good vintages.
Dale
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