BENSON FERRY VINYARDS OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 2006

Julia and I stopped at Beacon Hill Wine & Spirits on the way back from a great Malaysian dinner in Boston's Chinatown. We grabbed a bottle of Benson Ferry Vinyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2006 and popped it open when we got home. It was definitely a big, bold, fruity Zin, with juicy notes and a smokey after taste. Not much noticeable on the nose, and a deep cherry red colour. I wasn't overly impressed by this wine given its price ($16.99). I found it too sweet and lacking complexity.

ZIG ZAG ZIN ZINFANDEL 2005

Looking back over my blog posts from the past couple of years, I realized that there are definitely some under-represented wine types and regions. With this in mind, I decided to pick up something different and new when I visited the Vintages section of my local LCBO. As I passed through the California section I was intrigued by the selection of Zinfandels. I spotted one in particular that had only a few bottles remaining - always a good sign.

Zig Zag Zin is delicious! I was struck by its dryness and the strong tannins that give that "fuzzy teeth" sensation. On the nose I detected hay, strawberries, and a hint of rust. On the pallatte, toffee, spice, and licorice. This wine was big, juicy, and oh so tasty. I have never been a big drinker of this quintessential California grape, but now I think I will have it a little more often.