In Which We Start A Blog For Our Troubles

To our dearest Crazy Winos (yes, you!),

Evan and I thought it was high time for us to start a blog, chronicling our monthly wine nights. I'm disappointed that we didn't start this sooner - but I'm going to do my best to back date entries as they corresponded to the wine nights. It'll sort of be like time-traveling only there won't be a flux capacitor involved. I mean, unless you really want one. I'll see what I can do.

Anyway, it's our sincerest wish to have a movie and book deal before the end of our first year, since we figure our blog will be much better than Julie's (Julie and Julia, der). Let's make it happen, you guys!

Love Always,

Nicole


Our Monthly Wine Club

This monthly wine club proposes to hold monthly gatherings (Fridays/Saturdays TBD), at which time members will taste, discuss, and rate a variety of fine wines. Each couple (or individual) will be responsible for presenting a single bottle of vino at each meeting. At the end of the meeting, the supplier of the highest-ranked vintage will be named the host for the next month's meeting. The host will supply the venue, wine drinking-paraphernalia, as well as a smorgasbord of palate-cleansing/enhancing snacks. Basically, this club provides a relatively cheap, yet cultured, excuse to hang-out, drink, and have fun being friends. So, please join! Cheers!


Our Monthly Wine Club Blog Features

Announcements: to detail the next month's vintage, date and location. Obviously, the exact, extremely specific location will not be divulged here. Go to facebook for that.

A Message from Our President: messages sent to us by our fearless leader, Evan.

Wine Night: a new post for each month, chronicling wines, attendees, and a recap of winners and notes. It will be complete with select photographs from the night and a link to an album for that month's gathering.

Meet the Crazy Winos: to introduce you to each month's host.

May Wine Night - Red Zinfandel

Host

Jamie

Date

May 14, 2010

Bottles

XXXII Vintner's Cuvee - Jess & Evan
2000 Alderbrook Vineyards & Winery - Tara & Sean
2006 7 Deadly Zins - Bryan
2006 Girasole Vineyards (Organic) - Wil
2006 Rock River - Jamie & Shannon
2006 Sin Zin - Alissa
2007 Old Vinc - Kevin
2007 Sin Zin - Tim
2007 Vintner's Blend - Jess & Jillian
2008 Cline Cellars - Cara & Rich
2008 Joel Gott Wines - Kait & Donato
2008 Primitivo (Organic) - Nicole

Red Zinfandel

Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the "heel" of Italy, where it was introduced in the 1700s. The grape found its way to the United States in the mid-19th century, and became known by variations of the name "Zinfandel", a name of uncertain origin.

The grapes typically produce a robust red wine, although a semi-sweet rosé (blush-style) wine called White Zinfandel has six times the sales of the red wine in the United States. The grape's high sugar content can be fermented into levels of alcohol exceeding 15 percent.
The taste of the red wine depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas and in wines made from the earlier-ripening Primitivo clone.

The Results

WINNER: XXXII Vintner's Cuvee - 120 points out of 160
Producer: Rosenblum Cellars
Vineyard: Rosenblum Cellars
Country/State/Region: Sonoma, Califronia
Price: $10.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Butter, Raspberry, Blackberry, Black Pepper
Taste: Vanilla, Raspberry, Blackberry, Plum
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 9, 9, 4, 7.5, 7, 8, 7.5, 8, 8, 8.5, 8, 8, 6.5, 9, 4

2007 Old Vinc - 117.5 points out of 160
Producer: Klinker Brick Winery
Vineyard: Klinker Brick Winery
Country/State/Region: Woodbridge, California
Price: $21.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Vanilla, Pepper
Taste: Cedar, Coffee, Strawberry, Vanilla
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 7, 7, 6.5, 9, 2, 8, 8.5, 8, 7, 7, 6, 7, 8, 7.5, 10, 9

2007 Vintners Blend - 116.5 points out of 160
Producer: Ravenswood Winery
Vineyard: Ravenswood Winery
Country/State/Region: Sonoma, California
Price: $10.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Strawberry, Vegetable, Cinnamon
Taste: Raspberry, White Pepper, Oak, Black Cherry
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 6, 9, 8, 7, 7, 8, 8, 6. 7.5, 4.5, 7, 6, 7.5, 6, 10, 9



2006 7 Deadly Zins - 114.5 points out of 160
Producer: Michael and David Phillips
Vineyard: Michael and David Phillips
Country/State/Region: Graon, California
Price: $18.99
Aroma: Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Raspberry, Black Cherry
Taste: Raspberry, Cherry
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 8, 4, 3, 8, 6, 7, 9.5, 7, 7.5, 7, 9, 7, 6, 8, 8.5, 9

2008 Cline Cellars - 110 points out of 160
Producer: Cline Cellars
Vineyard: Cline Cellars
Country/State/Region: Sonoma, California
Price: $13.99
Aroma: Spice
Appearance: Purple
Body: Light
Nose: Blackberry, Black Pepper, Allspice, Cherry, Vanilla
Taste: Allspice, Olive, Cinnamon
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 7.5, 4, 6.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 7, 8, 6, 3, 7.5, 8, 7.5, 9, 10, 5

2006 Girasole Vineyards (Organic) - 98.5 points out of 160
Producer: Girasole Vineyards
Vineyard: Girasole Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Ukiah, California
Price: $17.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Clear
Body: Light
Nose: Pepper, Olive, Cherry
Taste: Cherry, Soil, Blackberry
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 7.5, 6, 5, 6, 7.5, 6.5, 5, 5.5, 5, 6, 5.5, 5, 8, 8, 5, 7




2008 Joel Gott Wines - 93 points out of 160
Producer: Joel Gott Wines
Vineyard: Joel Gott Wines
Country/State/Region: St. Helena, California
Price: $16.99
Aroma: Spice
Appearance: Purple
Body: Light
Nose: Cranberry, Cherry
Taste: Cherry, Cinnamon, Raisin
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 5.5, 6, 2, 6, 7, 6.5, 8, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 8, 8, 8, 4

2006 Sin Zin - 91.5 points out of 160
Producer: Alexander Valley Vineyards
Vineyard: Alexander Valley Vineyards
Country/State/Region: $14.99
Price: $14.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Light
Nose: Black Pepper, Cherry, Vanilla
Taste: Black Pepper, Prune, Raisin, Raspberry, Strawberry
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 4, 4.5, 4, 7, 4, 7, 7, 8, 2, 9, 3, 8, 6, 8, 4, 6

2007 Sin Zin - 87 points out of 160
Producer: Alexander Valley Vineyards
Vineyard: Alexander Valley Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Healdsburg, California
Price: $18.99
Aroma: Herbal, Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Light
Nose: Soil, Olive, Vegetable
Taste: Oak, Prune, Raspberry, Strawberry, Black Pepper
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 3, 6, 3, 4, 5, 2, 5, 5.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6, 9, 7.5, 6, 8, 5

2000 Alderbrook Vineyards & Winery - 79 points out of 160
Producer: Alderbrook Vineyards & Winery
Vineyard: Alderbrook Vineyards & Winery
Country/State/Region: Healdsburg, California
Price: $19.99
Aroma: Citrus, Spice, Oak
Appearance: Tawny
Body: Medium
Nose: Cherry, Smoke
Taste: Tabacco, Soil, Rose, Raisin, Smoke
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 6.5, 5, 3, 3, 7, 4.5, 4, 4.5, 4, 7, 3, 4, 3.5, 5, 7, 8

2008 Primitivo (Organic) - 77 points out of 160
Producer: C.V.T. Srl
Vineyard: La Natura Salento
Country/State/Region: Tortona, Italy
Price: $12.99
Aroma: Herbal
Appearance: Tawny
Body: Medium
Nose: Prune, Soil, Tabacco, Cucumber, Hay
Taste: Vegetable, Olive
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 5, 2, 3, 5, 5, 4, 7, 6.5, 6, 6.5, 4, 7, 6, 1, 7, 2

2006 Rock River - 75 points out of 160
Producer: Healdsburg Vineyards
Vineyard: Healdsburg Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Manteca, California
Price: $11.99
Aroma: Spice
Appearance: Tawny
Body: Light
Nose: Plum, Raspberry, Blackberry
Taste: Plum, Raspberry, Pepper
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 5, 3, 2, 6.5, 6, 5, 6, 7, 7, 2, 5, 4, 6.5, 2, 2, 6

Check our Facebook page for more pictures from May's Wine Night!

Comments

This was, in my opinion, the best wine night we've had yet. It didn't hurt that apparently Red Zinfandel has a higher alcohol content than any other red wine. No, that didn't hurt at all. And then Tim's and Alissa's Sin Zins came in back to back! And the cheer that went up around the table!

Zinfandel night. Was. Epic.

Happy 6 Months, you guys!