Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Vintner’s Cuvee XXX
Wine: Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Vintner's Cuvee XXX
Grapes: Zinfandel (88 percent), petite sirah (12 percent)
Region: California
Vintage: NV (nonvintage)
Price: $9.99
In the glass: Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel is an opaque blackish-purple red with deep crimson streaks going out into a pinkish, slightly faded red rim definition and very high viscosity.
On the nose: There is a smorgasbord of deeply layered and crushed black fruits of the forest, with dominance by brambleberry, then blackberries, oak references, phenolic references, beef jerky, spice rack, black licorice sticks, black pepper and mineral content, but all around a very fruit-forward wine with slightly stewy undertones.
On the palate: There is a massive spicy mixed black fruit attack with crushed Morello cherries, blackberry puree, underlying licorice root, reduced black fruit stew, ripe black plum skins and peppery notes, with subtle vanilla from oak. The wine has a massive yet supple tannin structure with a balanced, firm midpalate and a longish finish, still peppered with spice and some dissipating phenolic components going into cranberry at the end.
Odds and ends: Each year, Rosenblum Cellars sources fruit from 15 growing regions and more than 80 California vineyards to make this wine. It is designated NV, or nonvintage, because it gives them the liberty to blend this into a tremendously juicy and drinkable wine. This is one of the greatest values from Rosenblum Cellars at less than $10. It should have about two to three years of life for good solid drinking, and you can try it with anything hearty in the meat department.
Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 890160-0749, or e-mail him at gil@winevegas.com.
