Tasting: 4 Zinfandels from Trader Joe’s
Introduction: The tasting featured four Zinfandels, a varietal known for its bold flavors, high alcohol content, and rich fruitiness. Typical flavors in Zinfandel wines include blackberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, black pepper, cinnamon, anise, and clove. Zinfandel wines are also noted for their jammy, fruit-forward nature with high alcohol, often paired with bold spice and smokey notes.
Wines Tasted:
First Wine Tasted: Seven Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel 2021
Price: $12.99
Region: Lodi, California
Tasting Comments: This wine had an appealing vanilla aroma with fruity and jammy notes. On the palate, it was smooth, balanced, and had a pleasant finish with a light hint of peppermint or licorice. It was described as elegant with a bit of roasted cocoa flavor and a touch of spice.
Scores:
Scott: 18
Lynn: 17
John: 15
Jennifer: 15
Total for First Wine Tasted: 65
Second Wine Tasted: Trader Joe’s Coastal Zinfandel 2023
Price: $4.99
Region: Central Coast, California
Tasting Comments: The wine had a lighter ruby color, with a mineral, slightly acetone-like smell. The flavor was unbalanced with earthy, mushroomy notes, and a lack of depth. While drinkable, it was not impressive and had a grape juice-like quality.
Scores:
Scott: 11
Lynn: 11
John: 10
Jennifer: 10
Total for Second Wine Tasted: 42
Third Wine Tasted: Old Moon Old Vine Zinfandel 2022
Price: $5.99
Region: Lodi, California
Tasting Comments: This wine had a dark appearance, but the nose was lacking. The wine’s flavor was described as "dank" with a seaweed-like aroma and a dry, mineral taste. The berry flavor was flat, and the wine felt too much like grape juice trying to be a wine. The aftertaste lingered unpleasantly.
Scores:
Scott: 12
Lynn: 9
John: 9
Jennifer: 9
Total for Third Wine Tasted: 39
Fourth Wine Tasted: Bogle Family Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2022
Price: $9.99
Region: Clarksburg, California
Tasting Comments: The wine had a pleasant aroma with hints of black pepper, smokey oak, and tobacco. On the palate, it was smooth, with a mild acidity that sat on the sides of the tongue. While the berry flavors were not as prominent, the wine was balanced and had a clean finish.
Scores:
Scott: 15
Lynn: 16
John: 16
Jennifer: 14
Total for Fourth Wine Tasted: 61
Winning Wine:
The winning wine of the tasting was the First Wine Tasted: Seven Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel 2021. Despite being priced higher than the others, it stood out for its balanced profile, pleasant vanilla aroma, and smooth mouthfeel with fruity and jammy notes. It scored consistently well across all tasters and was praised for its elegant structure and enjoyable finish.
Conclusion: The Seven Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel emerged as the best wine in the tasting, earning the highest combined score due to its smooth, balanced structure and pleasant, approachable flavors. It was a consistent favorite among the tasters.
