I know this is the second red Zin in a row. However, a new friend to Wine Witch asked for recommendations for Zinfandels under our $15 cap and I have been trying to oblige. Like Pinot Noir this can be a bit of a challenge, but I have found a few if you look through the Wine Witch archives. Before I get into the wine at hand, if you are willing to go for the mid $20′s, I highly recommend some of the single vineyard offerings from Seghesio.
Anyway, my new Wine Witch friend and I had dinner a month or two ago. He struck me as a guy’s guy who would prefer the more kick butt end of the spectrum. I think I found it.
The 2007 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel does have one of those odd names that I always manage to find. Here is actually means something. When it comes to Zinfandel the older the vines the better the wine. Over the years the tops of the vines get all twisted and “gnarly” hence the name. The vines here are 35-80 years old. Gnarly Head is also located in the Lodi region of California which is Zinfandel Central.
In the glass, the wine is an opaque purple red with lots of very dark fruit in the nose – bramble berry, plum. This Zinfandel has a medium to full mouth feel with a smooth, juicy finish. There is quite a bit going on flavor wise – blackberry, plum, jam and, chocolate. The French and American oak impart some spice and vanilla and definitely give it a pretty firm backbone. The whole time through there is some black pepper dancing around in the back ground. This one may sound off the charts, but try the Gnarly Head Zinfandel with some good dark chocolate or brownies. It is a fabulous match.
Some cautionary notes – as with many Zinfandels the alcohol is pretty hefty at 14.5% , so be mindful of what you are consuming. Also, this wine NEEDS AIR! Open it, pour it, swirl it, decant it – but do something! The 2007 Gnarly Head Zinfandel needs some time to reveal its gifts, but it is worth the wait.
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