California Zinfandel is rarely more fun to drink than what the 2019 vintage delivers. Pleasure, let's face it, is part of Zin's appeal. This is not a wine that requires navel-gazing. Having reviewed Zin for Wine Spectator for 16 years, I see 2019 as that rare vintage that achieves harmony and balance. The 2019s can't be defined with the standard buzzwords. They're fruit-forward but not fruit bombs. They're ripe but not overwhelmed by alcohol. They're briary but not rustic. The best versions have a complexity that's easy to overlook because they're so easy to drink.
That's my takeaway after reviewing more than 200 Zinfandels in blind tastings at our Napa office since my previous report ("On the Bright Side," June 30, 2021), the majority of them from 2019. More than three-quarters of the 2019s received outstanding scores of 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale-an unprecedented showing for Zin, and I say that as the lead taster for the category since the 2004 vintage. Based on these numbers, I give the vintage an overall rating of 95 points in Sonoma and 93 points in Napa. Only a handful of producers have released their 2020s at this point, and since the vintage was marked by wildfires, I hesitate to provide even a preliminary score until I taste more examples.
Perhaps the best news about 2019 is that the wines are generally enjoyable across the board, no matter the region, producer, or price point. From perennial values by classic producers such as Pedroncelli to stalwarts such as Dry Creek Vineyard and fan favorite Turley, the vintage has something for every Zin lover.
ãã®èšäºã¯ Wine Spectator ã® August 31, 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ Wine Spectator ã® August 31, 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Shipwrecked Champagne Hoard Discovered Near Sweden
It sometimes feels like wine has a habit of falling into the briny deep. On July 23, Polish wreck diver and underwater photographer Tomasz Stachura announced that he and his Baltictech team had discovered the wreck of a 19th-century sailing ship near Ãland, an island off the coast of Swedenâand it was crammed with bottles of Champagne and mineral water.
Openings: The Latest in Napa Tasting
Several new tasting options have opened in Napa Valley, particularly in downtown Napa where wineries are launching satellite tasting rooms. Standing out from the crowd means trying new approaches. Here are some highlights:
War in Middle East Affects Vintners
The 2024 harvest at Israelâs Dalton Winery was punctuated by nonstop rocket and drone attacks launched from just across the border in Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon.
Wineries Sue Napa County in Federal Court
Three Napa wineries filed a joint lawsuit in federal court in September alleging that Napa County officials violated their constitutional rights.
Savoring Persimmon Season
For many, persimmons are an enigma ingredient. Chef David Nayfeld of Award of Excellence-winning Che Fico in San Francisco and its Best of Award of Excellence sibling dangling persimmons off the tree with a stick at a childhood friend's house before realizing what they were. \"I remember his parents saying, 'Hey, don't hit the persimmons, those are food!\"\"
Tasting Plate: A German Six-Pack
Though it boasts Western Europeâs largest population and biggest economy, Germany is nowhere near the cheese juggernaut its neighbors Switzerland and France are. That said, the Germans love their fine cheeses, and they do turn out some excellent ones, fortunately including more than a handful that are currently available here in the U.S.
Gigondas Blanc Est Arrivé!
Ask winemakers in the Southern RhÃŽne to name the most exciting white grape in their region and you will hear a growing number of them say \"Clairette.\"
Kistler's DARKER SIDE
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ups the ante at the house that Chardonnay built
THE SPLENDOR OF CHAMPAGNE
THE REGION'S LEADING PRODUCERS DELIVER HIGH QUALITY AMID A DIVERSE RANGE OF STYLES
MICHAEL BATTERBERRY: 1932-2010 Gourmet, Journalist, Gentleman
Before Food Network, Top Chef or Yelp ... before the term âfoodie\" ... before tomatoes were heirloom and sushi was fast food... back when fancy restaurants were always French... Michael Batterberry and his wife, Ariane, were working to celebrate and elevate the status of American chefs and international cuisine. Julie Mautner, Food Arts' former executive editor, looks at the life and legacy of her late mentor, affectionately known as The Bat.