Big, raucous, fun. Not only are these appropriate adjectives for the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) Grand Tasting that I attended in San Francisco Jan. 28, they also describe the red varietal that was poured at the event in copious quantities.
ZAP touts its festival as the largest, single-varietal tasting in the world; and Executive Director Rebecca Robinson says it's "sometimes recognized as the Super Bowl of wine tastings."
So how big is big? Try about 250 California wineries, pouring two to four zins each. That's an amazing 500 to 1,000 zinfandels under one roof ... all available for tasting.
No wonder it took me an extra day to recuperate from my "zin binge" and purple-stained teeth that festivalgoers seemed to wear like a badge of honor.
Keeping in mind that I was unable to put even a small dent in the total number of wines, and - as any wine drinker can attest - wines sampled toward the end of the three-hour event seemed to taste better, here are my festival favorites:
Best budget wine - Old Moon 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel (about $6). This product of Trader Joe's offers one heck of a zin for the money, with its blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors, a hint of licorice on the finish, and ample tannins.
Best mid-range price - Klinker Brick Winery 2009 Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (about $18). Inky black cherry flavors, plenty of spice and a vanilla-like finish make this big, bold zin a pleasure to drink. I've purchased it locally at the Barkley Village Haggen.
Best splurge - Soulmates Wines 2008 California Zinfandel (about $48) - This inaugural effort from the Stockton winery is an absolute grand slam. Beautiful flavors of rum raisin, lush blackberry and cherry, and an ultra-long finish with smoky nuances and hints of pepper and cocoa highlight this elegant zin.
Honorable mention splurge - Rosenblum Cellars 2009 Maggie's Reserve (about $45).
Most unusual - Unruly Wine Cellars 2010 California Zinfandel (about $12). This zin tasted a bit like blackstrap molasses and brown sugar, without the sweetness. As odd as it sounds, the wine seemed to work, with a price that easily makes it worth a try.
Other notable wineries included Easton Wines, Fritz Winery, J Dusi Wines, Lava Cap Winery, Seghesio Family Vineyards, and XYZin.
Many of the wines poured, particularly from smaller boutique wineries, are not distributed in Washington. Fortunately, a visit to the wineries' websites for an online order is all it takes to have them delivered to your door.
