by Patchen Markell » Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:54 am
Edmunds St. John 1993 Amador County Zinfandel. 13.7% abv. One of the two oldest bottles in my recent library case. (No "intuition and blind luck" on the label!) Immaculate cork; the wine's a hazy deep garnet on opening but takes on more color with air. This has aged like a Nebbiolo; there's still enough zip, and enough of a thread of plummy, berry fruit, to testify from the first sip that this is still very much alive and kicking. It's accented on one side by a hint of prune or raisin, which feels like it carries the Zinfandel signature, and on the other by a rich, slowly unfolding field of black pepper, licorice, and leather. Slowly picks up weight over the course of two hours and never collapses. I don't know what this wine was like in its youth, but it's sure beautiful now!
cheers, Patchen
