From the purple velvet label to old vine zin, this new wine is a winner.
76% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, 8% Merlot, 2% Primitivo, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, Sonoma and Napa, California. The Big Smooth Old Vine Zinfandel spent 14 months in 80% new French (10%), Hungarian (10%) and American (80%) oak.
Sample submitted for review. The Big Smooth Old Vine Zinfandel has an SRP of $18 and is available for as low as $15.
From the bottle:
Dim the lamp. Cue the music. Sink deep into your dark purple overstuffed velour couch... Swirl the Big Smooth zinfandel and see the velvety legs that stick to the glass, smell the sticky ripeness from Lodi grapes, savor the velvety tannins from Sonoma, and enjoy the silky finish from Napa.
15.5% Alcohol
Today's wine is a new one from Don Sebastiani & Sons. It is available in limited markets now (CA, CO, MA, IL) with more on the way later this year. (It's also available online if you can't wait.) And while the first thing that sticks out is the unique purple velvet label that you really have to touch to fully appreciate, the juice inside the bottle is pretty darn good too.
The 2013 Big Smooth Old Vine Zinfandel begins with aromas of raspberry, plum, bramble, vanilla, cinnamon and other baking spice notes. It's quite nice for sure, but this wine really comes alive when tasting. Speaking of which, it tastes a lot like you would expect a wine with a purple velvet label to taste - awesome! Big, lush, ripe, smooth and spicy, this Zin has it all. The oak treatment is quite evident (no surprise given the 14 months in 80% new barrels) but it works to great effect. Lots of spicy black pepper, more vanilla, cinnamon and baking spice and plenty of excellent brambly notes lead into the long, dry finish. The Big Smooth is just as fun to drink as the label suggests, which is not often the case.
See a listing of local retailers selling the Big Smooth Old Vine Zinfandel here.
