WTN: Seghesio Zinfandel Home Ranch 2004

One of the most offensive liquids (one foodstuff has surpassed this liquid in offensiveness...) that has passed my lips is Seghesio's Old Vine Zinfandel 2003. The 15,3% abv smelled and tasted stronger than well made spirits at 40%! The alcohol coupled with unctuous sweetness and toasty oak was a combination that I simply could not handle. So when I was offered a taste of another Seghesio Zin after work today I was a little hesitant in accepting. But I'm glad I did. This was a perfectly acceptable wine, just not one within my aesthetic preferences. But I can very well understand that this wine will have its fans:

• 2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Home Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (7/18/2008)
  15,3% abv; 36,90€; 15g/l RS; 6,8g/l acidity. Very ripe, sweet, spicy and plummy nose, almost reminiscent of CdP except this is perhaps darker in its fruit tones. Yet it also has a refreshing brightness and lift, so it isn't cloyingly sweet. Extremely full bodied, ripe and sunny fruit (but I am surprised to read Alko's info that it has 15g/l RS!), attractively strong tannins, not much acidity (though again the technical information would suggest otherwise) but it is still refreshing for such a big wine. There is some oak noticeable, but not in frightening amounts. Slightly cooled, the supremely high level of alcohol didn't bother. A successful wine in its style, though I must confess that I do prefer a more elegant style.

Posted from CellarTracker

[David M. Bueker]

Otto,

California Zinfandel is the very last type of wine I can see you drinking. Kudos to you for a very fair note.

By the way - the acidity in the wine was likely balanced by the residual sugar.

[Jenise]

Otto, interesting note--knowing this isn't at all your kind of wine, I'm impressed with your objectivity. And you capture very well why I bought a few bottles of the 05 for our cellar. Some food occasions actually call for wines of this size, and for all the reasons you say this one's very good for what it is.

A very good - and fair - note, Otto. I often have mixed feelings about wines like this (i.e., ripe flavours, big on alcohol and acid and RS - and man, they are ALL high on this one. I reread that line with tech data just to be sure I had really read 15 g/l RS!), but I have to say that when I'm in the mood for a more easy/lazy, hedonistic/non-intellectual drinking experience then this kind of wine can be really enjoyable. Actually I love Cali Zin with "American style" pizza (i.e., big doughy base, salty and fatty, lots of topping and cheese - "big" like the wine is I guess), and I really enjoyed the Seghesio 2004 Home Ranch with just such a pizza a year ago.

2003 was a very hot summer in California as well as in Europe. I have enjoyed some of the Seghesio Zins from other vintages.

[...]ripe flavours, big on alcohol and acid and RS - and man, they are ALL high on this one. I reread that line with tech data just to be sure I had really read 15 g/l RS!

I guess all of these cancelled each other out to make a rather balanced end product?

So are post-'04 vintages any cooler than '03? As we see Seghesio on occasionally here, I should buy some for the friends of mine who don't like tart, screeching acidity and fruitless wines.

-O