I noticed there are two Rosenblum Zins under $20 and I thought to myself, “Self, we should do something about this.”
The Contenders
Rosenblum Cellars Contra Costa County 2006 14.4% alcohol $15
Rosenblum Cellars Paso Robles 2006 14.9% alcohol $16
The Competition
Zin 1 Dark rudy red. Blueberry, pepper, mint, heat, and a very noticeable woody smell. Rich textured fruit, [...]
Archive > November 2008
Rosenblum Zinfandel under $20 taste-off (assaggio minoralus)
Campus Oaks Zin – inexpensive Zin highly recommended by The Wine Thieves
Okay, so I always get in trouble listening to the wine press, especially the wine merchants, and this little tasting was no different. I made a visit down to the local Wine Thieves store to pick up some Bordeaux. As always I checked out the Zin selection. And when I mentioned (as I tend to [...]
Wine Spectator’s BEST Zinfandel of 2008!
From The Wine Spectator’s web site:
“The Seghesio family has been making wine for a century in northern Sonoma County and farms more than 400 acres of Zinfandel in Alexander and Dry Creek valleys. They make a range of vineyard-designated Zinfandels, such as Home Ranch and Cortina, and a bottling from the oldest vines. But for [...]
Under $20 Zinfandel- there is no such thing as final when it comes to evaluating zins!
Contender: Ballentine Vineyards Napa Valley Old Vines Zinfandel 2004 Estate Grown; 14.8% alcohol. $19.99 retail but purchased at Beverages and More on the $.05 sale so essentially 2 for $20…start your car now; do not miss this deal. I can’t wait to taste this against the Rancho Zabaco 2004 Reserve we know and love because [...]
Bordeaux vs. New World, mk i/∞
It’s initiation time again, boys and girls. Tonight’s tasting featured a pair of Bordeaux blends, a Meritage from California up against a Bordeaux from, well, Bordeaux.
The initiation wasn’t for the wine; of course not. It was for The Royal’s latest new member, that scythe wielding wraith we all know as The Shadow. She did well, [...]
Welcome newest member – The Shadow!!!
We here at the Royals are always on the lookout for new recruits. Our latest addition hails from some nether region, always shrouded in secrecy, moving in the darkness of the night. Just a word of caution – don’t piss her off!
See the full Royal Tannin Bomb roster here.
Thee 2008 The Royal Tannin Bomb’s Zinfandel Awards Ceremony
The curtain has fallen, and risen again on a new dawn of fantastic Zinfandels to honour and acclaim. The Royal Tannin Bombs have done a tremendous amount of work this year on the Zin varietal, and I want to be the first to thank each of you and all of us. Without your contributions this [...]
Zinfandel – final under $20 showdown – mk iii/iii (assaggio minoralus)
The third and final installment of the trilogy to find the best affordable Zin was conducted Monday night, 11/10/2008.
Zin 1
Lightest colour of the chorus, with cherry, vegetal, floral, incense, and soap on the nose. Bad Man (that’s me) pointed out this is not the bouquet profile he likes. No tannins, high acid. Conclusion – a [...]
Zinfandel – final under $20 showdown – mk ii/iii (assaggio minoralus)
The second installment of the trilogy on the way to finding the best affordable Zin was conducted Wednesday night, 11/05/2008, at Bad Man’s abode. New member Roadkill (I need your “about” blurb asap – template here) was in attendance, along with Flamenco and Tally-Ho, but sadly no Full-Throttle.
Zin 1
Floral nose with dark berries and a [...]
Zinfandel – final under $20 showdown – mk i/iii (assaggio minoralus)
So as the year winds down (or up as the case may be) we here at The Royal Tannin Bombs are charged with providing you the answer to the question most often on the tip of people’s tongues around November every four years – “Just what is the best most affordably priced Zinfandel?” And so [...]
