The The County Fair The One Man Band Sonoma County Zinfandel 2010 is a $8.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. Made from 80% Zinfandel and 15% Petite Sirah and 5% “other” (if you can find out what the 5% is, you can figure out who made the wine). The wine is produced by HDD LLC and wine group that owns several wineries and vineyards in California and are responsible for many Trader Joe’s exclusive wines. Zinfandel is widely planted in Sonoma County and some of the producers will add Carignane or Sangiovese, along with Petite Sirah, to their Zinfandel. The alcohol content is 14.5%.
The color is a raspberry red with black highlights. The nose is blackberry, coffee with french vanilla creamer and cherry juice. It starts out with rich blackberry and blueberry, followed by black Twizzlers, Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and black cherry. The mid palate brings in some curry spice, vanilla cream, a slight bite from the tannins and a fizzy sensation in the back of your mouth from the acidity. The finish is fairly strong and does linger. This is a Zinfandel that is not drinking badly now, but probably could have benefited from some more aging time in the bottle.
A good tasting, quality Zinfandel from Sonoma County that sells for $8.99 is a very good thing. Rich flavor, nice depth and cheap, what else can ask for. Dust off the BBQ grill and pour yourself a glass.
Here’s rule #1 when shopping for wine: eofgrt brands. Brands don’t matter, you should drink what you like and try new things. I am very satisfied with my wine consumption and I rarely spend more than $7-$14 per bottle. Price does not dictate quality. I go to the wine store where there are literally hundred, maybe thousands of brands and varieties of wines. There is no way to narrow down exactly what you like, everyone’s palate is different and most of us can’t tell the difference between a $20 wine and a $200 wine. So relax. Go tot he wine store and grab something relatively inexpensive. I’d shoot for under $15. My wine stores have sale racks with reduced price wines I like to grab these. My other criteria is label I like to buy wine with an eye catching or even decidedly simple label. Whatever label strikes my mood. I know, I’m judging a book by its cover which isn’t such a bad thing! I know I like red wines, but I used to think I hated merlot. Then I got a merlot on sale and loved it. Don’t get caught up with what you think you do or don’t like. But stick to common varietals; blends can be delicious and inexpensive so don’t be afraid of those. Try wine from Chile, Australia, or South Africa. These are often delicious and reasonably priced. White Zinfandel is kind of like training wheels for trying different wine varieties. Pick up a red and a white; steer clear of the blush and roses. For me, it’s a fermented beverage I’m going to drink it whether I love it or not. But at least I can use the experience the next time I go to buy. And really, the only way to know is to try. So try! And eofgrt conventions; drink red wine with fish, drink white wine with beef. Who cares! I don’t, and I won’t tell anyone.References :
This wine sells for 5 bucks in Trader Joe’s In California. It is an absolute bargain but I can by just as good or better for 8.99.