Be true to the Zin.....Truett Hurst Old Vine 3 Vineyards

What a lucky person am I.  Last night I enjoyed one of the most spectacular zins, a 2012 Truett Hurst Old Vine 3 Vineyards. 
Have you heard of the color purple....just sayin.
The nose sent out aromas of dark cherry, plum, and very aromatic flowers...violets.
The mouth erupted with so many flavors...bursting on the scene first..cherry, followed quickly by raspberry, then plum.  All of that followed with bits of cedar?, then pepper and finally tannins that reach into the depths of your soul begging for more.
I enjoyed this immensely.  So much so that I was inspired to cook a perfect steak with a side of spinach.  The steak was perfectly broiled to a medium rare. The spinach was sautéed with onion, bacon, and garlic.  A little a jus poured over the top of all for that maximum flavor.
Mouthwatering good
Enjoy

Yes it was DELICIOUS

also mouthwatering 

Tobin James Ballistic 2011

Have you seen anything like that lately. 

Tonights wine of choice: the Tobin James Zinfandel; Ballistic 2011.

The actual winery started in 1993, The winemakers are Tobin James and Lance Silver. 

The partnership has  garnered many awards right from the start. 

As soon as you open the bottle you know you are in for a fruit bomb.  The nose exudes dark ripe red fruits: plum, currant and a finishing hint of rose.  A floral boquet that reminds you of the big robust rose blooms of summer. 

The mouth is lush and fruit forward, as it is with many Paso Robles wines.  

The dark ripe red fruits hit you first right at the beginning.  Full bodied, plum is the dominant flavor.  

The wine coats your mouth with layers of flavor.  Each one peeling off slowly and showing the complexity of the wine.  Just enough spice at the end to mark it Zin. The flavor never really ends.  Just slowly fades and just as you think you are done, low and behold you realize it is still there.  The soft tannins are there to make your mouth water and beg for a little more, just  a little more and before you know it the bottle is done.  

Wow I really need some schezuan right now. 

Enjoy

Who wishes they were me tonight..St Amant Old Vine Zin 2012

Just when I thought nothing could surprise me....St Amant Old Vine Zin. 
Just the color alone.
St Amant is grown in the Lodi Appellation and is one of the first certified sustainable vineyards in Lodi. 
This beautiful deep purple ruby color qualifies as a real treausure. 
The nose sends off aromas of a ripe orchard in Spring.  I could open this bottle everyday just to enjoy the boquet.
Once the wine hits your mouth  the flavors burst  out  sending sensation tingles to every end of your body.  Deep rich cherry and blackberry.  A real fruit bomb, jammy and rich. Ever so soft and slight tannins that linger and leave you begging.  
To night we had rib eye and potatoes. What an experience. Full and rich and then you add a perfectly cooked med rare ribeye it is like taking a stairway to heaven. 
Enjoy.