by Ethan Johnson
August 28, 2008
Apparently, when I'm not drinking yet another Petite Sirah (and I assure you, there are more yet to come), I am sticking my nose into a glass of red zinfandel. Pop! goes the cork on:
Producer (Vineyard): Asti Winery
Varietal (Grape type): Zinfandel
Vintage (Year): 2005
Country: USA (California)
Color: Red
Cost: Inexpensive ($10 USD)
Swirl and Sniff: The color struck me as strawberry red - as in, strawberry juice, not the flesh. Scent-wise, hoo whee, AL-CO-HOL. It never went away, either, no matter how long the bottle/glass sat. Try as I might, I couldn't get any other impressions from the scent.
Taste: I thought it would be AL-CO-HOL, thanks to the overwhelming fumes, but amazingly, it was a blend of plummishness (??) and blueberries.
Pairing: I drank this with a - how original - steak. And the wine HATED the steak (or vice versa). When I had no steak in my mouth, the wine was smooth like easy listening music. With steak, death metal. Minus any of whatever makes death metal appealing.
Rating: When it comes to this wine, I would (and you may):
- Buy three or more bottles for regular enjoyment
- Buy a bottle or two for occasional enjoyment
- Ask for when dining out or at a party
- Settle for if your preferred wine is not available
- Politely decline and never drink again, ever
Eh. I would say "pass" outright, but it is smooth enough on its own that if I was at a party or restaurant and this was the one and only Zin on the menu, sure, I'll have some. But If there are any others, uh, I'll try my luck with the others, especially if I'm eating steak. One thing is certain: If you paid more than $10 for a bottle, you've been had.
If you do give this a try, please let me know how your experience compared with mine. Thanks! <EM>
(The Totally Unpretentious Wine Reviews Index may be found here.)
