Great under-the-radar QPR Zinfandel

2004 Muccigrosso Lyn Zin – a blend of several Zinfandel sources $20
Pretty ruby color in the glass – lovely ripe Zin cherry flavors up front in a medium weight package – has a clean mouthfeel and ready to drink – not a powerhouse wine – more like a throwback to the elegant, food friendly Zinfandels of the early 90s.

2005 Muccigrosso Lyn Zin - $20
Similar clarity of color – perhaps just a bit more expressive aromatically, but more in the cherry flavor neighborhood than the dark, plumy side of Zinfandel – it tastes like Claret-style fruit that’s been made in a more fruit forward and friendly style. Very attractive and pleasing in the mouth – shows a bit more tannin up front, which I think is more a function of the vintage for this winery – it does not detract from the wine – finishes cleanly and is a lot of fun to drink.

2006 Muccigrosso Lyn Zin - $20
Equally attractive aromatically, although it’s appeal is a bit more broad and less focused toward cherry – there’s a hint of raspberry as well, which is quite nice – the flavors follow the nose, with cherry and red raspberry flavors predominating in a medium weight package with some fine tannin and the requisite acidity to hold it all together. These are food friendly Zinfandels that remind me of the dozens of lovely Zins that attracted me to the variety some fifteen years ago, long before the “Turleyization” of Zinfandel. The full list price of these Zinfandels is $20 – today they are being offered at $17 with an additional 20% case discount – an astonishing value.

2005 Muccigrosso Stan Zin – from the Moniz Vineyard in Morgan Hill $20
Some dusty austerity in the nose – sweet and ripe in the mouth, carrying a firm acid backbone – some front end tannins suggest the wine could use a year or two of bottle age – shows great promise – surely the rival of bottlings offered at twice the price.

2006 Muccigrosso Stan Zin - $20
Pretty deep ruby color – a bit shy in the nose, showing some deep berry aromas – lots of sweet cherry/Zinberry up front in a medium weight package – a bit more distinctive than the Lyn Zin, but that is not a criticism, merely an observation. Perhaps it’s the single vineyard sourcing that creates that impression. Finishes cleanly with just a hint of briar on the back end.

These Zinfandels from Muccigrosso are by far the most delightful discovery and QPR find of this weekend. Great Zinfandel and amazing value. Bravo !!!


Excerpted from Santa Cruzin' - 4 days - 26 wineries - 130 wines
http://www.gangofpour.com

Unpleasant name

Reads like Mucky-gross-o to me

[Jenise]

These are food friendly Zinfandels that remind me of the dozens of lovely Zins that attracted me to the variety some fifteen years ago,

Sounds wonderful, Alan--and the rarity of them (at least in places I've lived and bought wine) is why I so rarely drink zin anymore. Where's the winery located?

[David M. Bueker]

Very interesting. I will have to look them up.

[Jenise]

Alan and anyone else, found a website for Muccigrosso which answers my question of whereabouts: they're in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Here's a link:

http://www.muccigrosso.com/

Unpleasant name

Reads like Mucky-gross-o to me

Or, read with an Italian "ch" sound: "Mucho Gross"

“Mucci” was a nickname given to those whose Italian names ended in –mo. For example, Giacomo, his friends at school and the teachers called him “James”, but his family and buddies in the neighborhood called him “Mucci”, so this could be translated as “Big James”. If you want to make the Italian “ch” sound Muche-Grosso this would translate “Big Thief”.

Salute

2004 Muccigrosso Lyn Zin – a blend of several Zinfandel sources $20
Pretty ruby color in the glass – lovely ripe Zin cherry flavors up front in a medium weight package – has a clean mouthfeel and ready to drink – not a powerhouse wine – more like a throwback to the elegant, food friendly Zinfandels of the early 90s.

OK, I'm onboard.

Thanks for the link, Jenise!