Recommendation: A VERY noteworthy Zinfandel at $11.99.
Winery/Producer: Frei Brothers Winery; Healdsburg, California.
Grape Variety: Zinfandel.
Geographic Region, Appellation: Dry Creek Valley; Sonoma County, California.
Vintage: 2014.
Price: $11.99 (with a 30% mixed 6-pack discount)
Purchased From: Ralphs Grocery Store; Agoura Hills, California.
Paired With: Chicken breast cooked with balsamic vinegar, flavored with basal and topped with tomatoes and feta cheese; baked potato; roasted broccoli.
Tasting:
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He said: Opened 30-minutes before drinking. Opaque, purple color with a lighter purple rim. A whiff of dark fruit aromas. But than the wine comes alive with a medium-bodied taste that has ROBUST black cherry, plum and current flavors with hints of spice and caramel candy. All this continues through a long, quite smooth, dry finish that ends with delicious fruit and acidity. It’s a big, bold, California wine. At $11.99 it’s good Zinfandel and what I would call an EXCELLENT grocery store buy. Good with food and it’s equal or better drinking alone. This is a VERY noteworthy Zinfandel at $11.99.
She said: Very dark red color, opaque, with lots of thin speedy legs. What a surprise! Huge flavor but only a mild fragrance. As I took my first sniff I thought the wine would be mild and a bit blah but was totally knocked over by the HUGE flavor that ensued. Full of dark berry flavor the wine delivers a taste and mouth feel that is notable and memorable. It is dry, medium bodied, and has a long tasty finish that carries the good flavors that first emerged in the mouth. It went well with the dinner and I would buy it again in a flash; it is a bargain wine at $12
Alcohol: 14.8%
Bar code: 0 85000 01573 5
Imported by: NA
Photo from Frei Brothers Reserve.