by Ethan Johnson
August 29, 2008

No, you're not imagining things. I reviewed this wine a while back, and didn't take a shine to it. But, as I have been more, dare I say, adept at red zin appreciation, I opted to give it another try. And here it is:

Producer (Vineyard): Ravenswood
Varietal (Grape type): Zinfandel
Vintage (Year): 2005
Country: USA (California)
Color: Red
Cost: Inexpensive ($10 USD)

Swirl and Sniff: The color is scarlet. As for the scent mix, I got Windex and alcohol. No, I didn't clean the glass with Windex. I think there was a third scent in there somewhere, but it defied classification. It was either mud or chocolate.

Taste: Smooth, with watery edges. Rather nondescript, to be honest.

Pairing: I drank this with pizza. I think I was misinformed that red zin was "pizza wine". I don't fault the pairing as the pizza in question seemed to be more of a Gewürztraminer food. I saved the wine for after dinner, and it was smooth on its own, but very watery. Then the alcohol mallet bashed my head in. I'm amazed I can type a coherent sentence.

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

Pass. Really, the County series of zins is roughly $2-5 more (depending on the seller and which county in particular), and much higher quality. I think the "blend" series is admittedly a "seeds and stems" concoction. Not that other cheapie wines aren't fashioned in a similar manner, but I'll pass on this one going forward, thanks.

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.)