Wine Tasting (Week 6)

Sorry to have missed y'all last week; things got a little hectic for me, but don't worry. I'm back and rearin' to review some wine!

This week I'll be reviewing Twisted's cost effective Zinfandel as well as the slightly pricier Pinot Noir from Andrew Rich.

Twisted's 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel is "medium-bodied with aromas of black cherry, red currant, blackberry bramble and a hint of spice." I was able to pick it up for only around $5 and I can't say I was disappointed. While a little simpler than certain other Zinf's I've tried, this wine was still very satisfying. The blackberry and currant were prominent and clear and the spice was pleasantly warm in the mouth. The one weakness of this wine is probably in it's spice flavors, which came through exclusively as pepper, as opposed to a more balanced blend of flavors. However, for $5 a bottle that is a reasonable price to pay as this gives you the essential Zinfandel experience.

As for Andrew Rich's 2015 Prelude Pinot Noir, our bottle came in at around $25 and boy was it worth it. Described as "a mélange of strawberry preserve, raspberry purée and black cherry cola notes," this was far and away the smoothest and most complex wine I think I've ever had. I noted cherry and blackberry over the stated strawberry as well as a heavy nutmeg taste and a subtle buttery taste deep down in there. The aftertaste was smooth and unobtrusive, leaving behind only the sweet fruit flavors. When paired with steak, the buttery and spicy flavors really leapt out.

Wines Reviewed:

Twisted's Old Vine Zinfandel: http://www.twistedwine.com/content/twisted/en_us/wines/old-vine-zinfandel.html

Andrew Rich Prelude Pinot Noir: https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/andrew-rich-2015-prelude-pinot-noir-willamette-valley/

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The Young Sommelier [Thomas' Wine Blog]

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