TN: 3 Zin's (and a Splurge)

Feb 21, 2005 4 Replies

Saturday after a Little Dribblers Basketball game, Alison and I drove to Dallas (TX) for a Valentine's dinner.



We stopped at Cru, A Wine Bar in the West Village and tried the California Zin's flight with a a Cheese flight.



The chesse plate had some Manchego, Parmigiano, and Stilton with green olives, almonds and green and red apple slices, and grapes.



The wines were:



Beaulieu Vineyards, Beauzeaux 01, Napa, CA. A very unimpressive wine. Bland, plain and generally dull.



Ridge Lytton Springs 02, Dry Creek Valley, CA Tart, sour berries.



Brian Benson Cellars, 02, Paso Robles, CA. All I can saw is WOW!. Black cherry, coffee, dark chocolate and nutty with some oak. Very well integrated and an excellent finish.



With there 5 cheese pizza we had a full glass of the Brian Benson.



We had not planned on having dessert, but on the dessert wine list I saw that they had Ch. Y'Quem 1994 for $33 a glass. Rich, thick honey and floral notes. There was something I could not identify though. Sort of a chemical or processed. Very Yummy!



I could not check out the colors, and this place is very dark.



Cheers,



Walter


Betcha it was a little tainted with TCA, an issue BV struggled with in the late 1990s/early 2000s. I've had Beauzeaux a couple of times and it was nice, but the problem with low-level TCA contamination at BV for a few years killed a lot of otherwise superb wine.

However, if you ever get a chance to try BV's Dulcet, don't be put off by the odd name. It's a superb dry red.

Would you call that odd chemical note a "vinyl" note?

Cheers, Dana

Well, yea... sorta plastic... but I just realized, a petrol note too...

Is that typical with Y'quem? Sorta reminded me of some of my favorite Spatlese/Auslese's

I'll give the Dulcet a try... But the Brian Benson was top notch.

I am normally very sensitive to TCA... but I am but a mere newbie.

Walter

[snip!]

I did not know Brian Benson made a zinfandel. I have some of his cabernet put away and I really like it, although it is fruit-forward. For those who may not know this label, Brian Benson is the son of Norm Benson, the owner of Dark Star Cellars. He can't be more than 22 years old. I think he was helping his dad make wine before he was even old enough to drink it. He has a microproduction label of his own on the side and I am very shocked to see his wines making it all the way to Texas!

Dimitri

Well, I am saddened that it only seems to available at Cru, A Wine Bar... It's a 2.5 hour drive...

Perhaps I will get to California soon!

Walter

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required