The Zinfandel thread

[ste667]

I tried my first Zinfandel at the Cape Mentelle cellar door yesterday and really enjoyed it.

However, at $60 a pop, I couldn't really afford to take any away. Can anyone recommend a few more wallet friendly alternatives?

 

[Buzzard]

You could try this: http://rusticanawines.com.au/

 

[Pushka]

You could try this: http://rusticanawines.com.au/

That is very nice. And pop in next door to Newmans Horseradish farm.

 

[sigmadelta]

Zinfandel is known by a few names, such as Primitivo in Italy. It was proven recently by a team in Oxford to have originated as a rustic Croatian variety, and has this finding has caused all kinds of upsets in California where they take it perhaps a bit too seriously.

Anyway, a link for you:
Zinfandel Wine in Australia

 

[Pushka]

Zinfandel is known by a few names, such as Primitivo in Italy. It was proven recently by a team in Oxford to have originated as a rustic Croatian variety, and has this finding has caused all kinds of upsets in California where they take it perhaps a bit too seriously.

Anyway, a link for you:
Zinfandel Wine in Australia

The link keeps flicking to coughter.

 

[sigmadelta]

How annoying!

Here's a list of Zin producers in Oz (from that vinodiversity link)

Arimia Margaret River Margaret River | Baarrooka Strathbogie Ranges | Ballabourneen Wines Hunter Valley | Barrecas Geographe | Beach Road Langhorne Creek | Box Grove Vineyard Nagambie Lakes | Brown Brothers King Valley | Buckshot Vineyard Heathcote | Burge Family Winemakers Barossa Valley | By Jingo Adelaide Hills | Calais Estate Hunter Valley | Cape Horn Vineyard Goulburn Valley | Cape Mentelle Margaret River | Cargo Road Wines Orange | Ceravolo Premium Wines Adelaide Plains | Chapman Valley Wines Central Western Australian Zone | Chateau Tanunda Barossa Valley | Chittering Valley Winery Perth Hills | Coffee Hill Winery Orange | Concotton Creek Peel | De Bortoli Riverina | Donnybrook Estate Geographe | Elderton Barossa Valley | Fratelli Heathcote | Glaymond Wines Barossa Valley | Groom Barossa Valley | Grove Estate Wines Hilltops | Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy McLaren Vale | Hanging Rock Winery Macedon Ranges | Head in the Clouds McLaren Vale | Hently Farm Wines Barossa Valley | Hotham Ridge Winery Peel | Inghams Skilly Ridge Wines Clare Valley | Inkwell McLaren Vale | Irvine Eden Valley | Jarrah Ridge Winery Perth Hills | jb Wines Barossa Valley | Kabminye Wines Barossa Valley | Kalleske Wines Barossa Valley | Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale | Karanto Vineyards Langhorne Creek | Kimbolton Langhorne Creek | Kingston Estate Riverland | La Curio McLaren Vale | Lambert Estate Barossa Valley | Lethbridge Wines Geelong | Lilac Hill Estate Swan Valley | Lion Mill Vineyards Perth Hills | Longview Vineyard Adelaide Hills | Lowe Family Wines Mudgee | Mandalay Road Geographe | Mansfield Wines Mudgee | Marschall Groom Cellars Barossa Valley | McHenry Hohnen Margaret River | Morrisons of Glenrowan Glenrowan | Murray Street Vineyard Barossa Valley | Nepenthe Adelaide Hills | O'Regan Creek Vineyard and Winery Queensland Coastal | Oak Works Riverland | Old Caves Granite Belt | Olssens of Watervale Clare Valley | Peel Estate Peel | Pepper Tree Wines Orange | Petersons Glenesk Estate Mudgee | Phillips Estate Pemberton | Piggs Peake Winery Hunter Valley | Rigel Wines Mornington Peninsula | Riverbank Estate Swan Valley | Robinvale Wines Murray Darling | Roenfeldt Hill Barossa Valley | Romavilla Roma | Rookery Wines Kangaroo Island | Rowsley Fault Vineyards Geelong | Rusden Wines Barossa Valley | Rusticana Langhorne Creek | Rutherglen Estates Rutherglen | Sanguine Estate Heathcote | Schulz Vignerons Barossa Valley | Serafino Wines McLaren Vale | Seraph's Crossing Clare Valley | Silkwood Wines Pemberton | Smallwater Estate Geographe | Smidge Wines Langhorne Creek | Stefano di Pieri Murray Darling | Stellar Ridge Margaret River | Stockman's Ridge Orange | Summit Estate Granite Belt | Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes | Talisman Wines Geographe | Tanglefoot Winery Peel | Tempus Two Hunter Valley | Terindah Estate Geelong | Tim Adams Clare Valley | Toomuc Ridge Yarra Valley | Tscharke Barossa Valley | Uleybury Wines Adelaide Zone | Vincognita McLaren Vale | Virage Margaret River | Wandering Lane Peel | Wandoo Farm Central Western Australian Zone | Warrabilla Wines Rutherglen | Watershed Wines Margaret River | Wilson Vineyard Clare Valley | Wise Wine Margaret River | Wood Park King Valley | Wordsworth Wines Geographe | Yokain Vineyard Estate Geographe | Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek

 

[beefarmer]

How annoying!

Here's a list of Zin producers in Oz (from that vinodiversity link)

Arimia Margaret River Margaret River | Baarrooka Strathbogie Ranges | Ballabourneen Wines Hunter Valley | Barrecas Geographe | Beach Road Langhorne Creek | Box Grove Vineyard Nagambie Lakes | Brown Brothers King Valley | Buckshot Vineyard Heathcote | Burge Family Winemakers Barossa Valley | By Jingo Adelaide Hills | Calais Estate Hunter Valley | Cape Horn Vineyard Goulburn Valley | Cape Mentelle Margaret River | Cargo Road Wines Orange | Ceravolo Premium Wines Adelaide Plains | Chapman Valley Wines Central Western Australian Zone | Chateau Tanunda Barossa Valley | Chittering Valley Winery Perth Hills | Coffee Hill Winery Orange | Concotton Creek Peel | De Bortoli Riverina | Donnybrook Estate Geographe | Elderton Barossa Valley | Fratelli Heathcote | Glaymond Wines Barossa Valley | Groom Barossa Valley | Grove Estate Wines Hilltops | Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy McLaren Vale | Hanging Rock Winery Macedon Ranges | Head in the Clouds McLaren Vale | Hently Farm Wines Barossa Valley | Hotham Ridge Winery Peel | Inghams Skilly Ridge Wines Clare Valley | Inkwell McLaren Vale | Irvine Eden Valley | Jarrah Ridge Winery Perth Hills | jb Wines Barossa Valley | Kabminye Wines Barossa Valley | Kalleske Wines Barossa Valley | Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale | Karanto Vineyards Langhorne Creek | Kimbolton Langhorne Creek | Kingston Estate Riverland | La Curio McLaren Vale | Lambert Estate Barossa Valley | Lethbridge Wines Geelong | Lilac Hill Estate Swan Valley | Lion Mill Vineyards Perth Hills | Longview Vineyard Adelaide Hills | Lowe Family Wines Mudgee | Mandalay Road Geographe | Mansfield Wines Mudgee | Marschall Groom Cellars Barossa Valley | McHenry Hohnen Margaret River | Morrisons of Glenrowan Glenrowan | Murray Street Vineyard Barossa Valley | Nepenthe Adelaide Hills | O'Regan Creek Vineyard and Winery Queensland Coastal | Oak Works Riverland | Old Caves Granite Belt | Olssens of Watervale Clare Valley | Peel Estate Peel | Pepper Tree Wines Orange | Petersons Glenesk Estate Mudgee | Phillips Estate Pemberton | Piggs Peake Winery Hunter Valley | Rigel Wines Mornington Peninsula | Riverbank Estate Swan Valley | Robinvale Wines Murray Darling | Roenfeldt Hill Barossa Valley | Romavilla Roma | Rookery Wines Kangaroo Island | Rowsley Fault Vineyards Geelong | Rusden Wines Barossa Valley | Rusticana Langhorne Creek | Rutherglen Estates Rutherglen | Sanguine Estate Heathcote | Schulz Vignerons Barossa Valley | Serafino Wines McLaren Vale | Seraph's Crossing Clare Valley | Silkwood Wines Pemberton | Smallwater Estate Geographe | Smidge Wines Langhorne Creek | Stefano di Pieri Murray Darling | Stellar Ridge Margaret River | Stockman's Ridge Orange | Summit Estate Granite Belt | Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes | Talisman Wines Geographe | Tanglefoot Winery Peel | Tempus Two Hunter Valley | Terindah Estate Geelong | Tim Adams Clare Valley | Toomuc Ridge Yarra Valley | Tscharke Barossa Valley | Uleybury Wines Adelaide Zone | Vincognita McLaren Vale | Virage Margaret River | Wandering Lane Peel | Wandoo Farm Central Western Australian Zone | Warrabilla Wines Rutherglen | Watershed Wines Margaret River | Wilson Vineyard Clare Valley | Wise Wine Margaret River | Wood Park King Valley | Wordsworth Wines Geographe | Yokain Vineyard Estate Geographe | Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek

What about west oz's Churchview zinfandel from the fo. Delish. But like you, I am an novice to this grape and found my first ever zin lovely. About a body of 7/10, which might be normal......a high fruit element with background, and not overstated oak, and a peppery feel. Does this sound like characteristics in the one you had?

 

[Steady]

And another- Bremerton

edit - please ignore I had Malbec on my mind......

 

[JohnM]

And another- Bremerton

Muddling your Malbec and Zin, there, mate!

 

[Steady]

Muddling your Malbec and Zin, there, mate!

Opps, I wonder how I managed that....

 

[JessicaTam]

The link keeps flicking to coughter.

I think there might be an issue with your browser, as this is not the first time you have reported this happening.

Try just typing in www. vinodiversity. com/zinfandel. html (without the spaces) into your browser.

 

[blackcat20]

How annoying!

Here's a list of Zin producers in Oz (from that vinodiversity link)

Arimia Margaret River Margaret River | Baarrooka Strathbogie Ranges | Ballabourneen Wines Hunter Valley | Barrecas Geographe | Beach Road Langhorne Creek | Box Grove Vineyard Nagambie Lakes | Brown Brothers King Valley | Buckshot Vineyard Heathcote | Burge Family Winemakers Barossa Valley | By Jingo Adelaide Hills | Calais Estate Hunter Valley | Cape Horn Vineyard Goulburn Valley | Cape Mentelle Margaret River | Cargo Road Wines Orange | Ceravolo Premium Wines Adelaide Plains | Chapman Valley Wines Central Western Australian Zone | Chateau Tanunda Barossa Valley | Chittering Valley Winery Perth Hills | Coffee Hill Winery Orange | Concotton Creek Peel | De Bortoli Riverina | Donnybrook Estate Geographe | Elderton Barossa Valley | Fratelli Heathcote | Glaymond Wines Barossa Valley | Groom Barossa Valley | Grove Estate Wines Hilltops | Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy McLaren Vale | Hanging Rock Winery Macedon Ranges | Head in the Clouds McLaren Vale | Hently Farm Wines Barossa Valley | Hotham Ridge Winery Peel | Inghams Skilly Ridge Wines Clare Valley | Inkwell McLaren Vale | Irvine Eden Valley | Jarrah Ridge Winery Perth Hills | jb Wines Barossa Valley | Kabminye Wines Barossa Valley | Kalleske Wines Barossa Valley | Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale | Karanto Vineyards Langhorne Creek | Kimbolton Langhorne Creek | Kingston Estate Riverland | La Curio McLaren Vale | Lambert Estate Barossa Valley | Lethbridge Wines Geelong | Lilac Hill Estate Swan Valley | Lion Mill Vineyards Perth Hills | Longview Vineyard Adelaide Hills | Lowe Family Wines Mudgee | Mandalay Road Geographe | Mansfield Wines Mudgee | Marschall Groom Cellars Barossa Valley | McHenry Hohnen Margaret River | Morrisons of Glenrowan Glenrowan | Murray Street Vineyard Barossa Valley | Nepenthe Adelaide Hills | O'Regan Creek Vineyard and Winery Queensland Coastal | Oak Works Riverland | Old Caves Granite Belt | Olssens of Watervale Clare Valley | Peel Estate Peel | Pepper Tree Wines Orange | Petersons Glenesk Estate Mudgee | Phillips Estate Pemberton | Piggs Peake Winery Hunter Valley | Rigel Wines Mornington Peninsula | Riverbank Estate Swan Valley | Robinvale Wines Murray Darling | Roenfeldt Hill Barossa Valley | Romavilla Roma | Rookery Wines Kangaroo Island | Rowsley Fault Vineyards Geelong | Rusden Wines Barossa Valley | Rusticana Langhorne Creek | Rutherglen Estates Rutherglen | Sanguine Estate Heathcote | Schulz Vignerons Barossa Valley | Serafino Wines McLaren Vale | Seraph's Crossing Clare Valley | Silkwood Wines Pemberton | Smallwater Estate Geographe | Smidge Wines Langhorne Creek | Stefano di Pieri Murray Darling | Stellar Ridge Margaret River | Stockman's Ridge Orange | Summit Estate Granite Belt | Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes | Talisman Wines Geographe | Tanglefoot Winery Peel | Tempus Two Hunter Valley | Terindah Estate Geelong | Tim Adams Clare Valley | Toomuc Ridge Yarra Valley | Tscharke Barossa Valley | Uleybury Wines Adelaide Zone | Vincognita McLaren Vale | Virage Margaret River | Wandering Lane Peel | Wandoo Farm Central Western Australian Zone | Warrabilla Wines Rutherglen | Watershed Wines Margaret River | Wilson Vineyard Clare Valley | Wise Wine Margaret River | Wood Park King Valley | Wordsworth Wines Geographe | Yokain Vineyard Estate Geographe | Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek

I'm not aware of Brown Brothers offering a Zinfandel, not currently, nor in the 15 or so years I've been visiting their cellar door.

 

[RooFlyer]

Zinfandel you say? Can't beat those from Russian River. Just be prepared to mortgage the house for the privilege.

 

[ste667]

What about west oz's Churchview zinfandel from the fo. Delish. But like you, I am an novice to this grape and found my first ever zin lovely. About a body of 7/10, which might be normal......a high fruit element with background, and not overstated oak, and a peppery feel. Does this sound like characteristics in the one you had?

Yep, that sums it up nicely. Was quite a high alcohol content from memory, but that was not at all evident on drinking. Might be a dangerous grape to get into!

 

[JohnM]

Some comments about Zin by another retired former colleague of mine who produces quite a reasonable drop in the Geographe region:
About Zinfandel – Mandalay Road


Cheap labour in California helps in the intensive vineyard management this variety requires.

A superb producer of a wide range of single-vineyard Zins in the US is Turley: Turley Wine Cellars. You'll enter a totally different dimension with quality CA Zins compared with anything produced in Australia.

 

[cove]

Yes JohnM I am a CA fan of Zinfandel. I do like it with a New York strip steak. We will be in the US at least twice in the next 6 months.

 

[JohnM]

Yes JohnM I am a CA fan of Zinfandel. I do like it with a New York strip steak. We will be in the US at least twice in the next 6 months.

Slurp a couple for me, Cove .

 

[cove]

I tend to slurp an Orange Julius.
Zinfandel has a special taste so I am a real fan.
The only Pinot Noir I have appreciated is the Moss Wood from Victoria.

 

[Vinodiversity]

I have checked out my Zin page and can't see a problem with flickering, but others seem to have not seen the problem as well. Maybe it is browser problem.
Thanks for the heads up about Churchview Zinfandel. I'll add it to my list in due course.
I must concur with the suggestion about Rusticana - a great example. The first post in this thread was seeking advice about moderately priced Zins. There seems to be plenty around the $30 -$35 mark but I have lately enjoyed a bottle from Tahbilk's everyday drinking range at about $10 I think.

Zinfandel is a fairly idiosyncratic variety and I have recently started a project involving winemakers talking about why they love particular alternative varieties.

Darby Higgs
Vinodiversity

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF, vinodiversity You've popped up in a [-] bunch of rogues[/-] group of the best and refined wine lovers in the AFF forum.