THE WINE:Name: Terra d' Oro
Variety: 100% Zinfandel
Region: Amador County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2006
Price: $15 (Kroger)
CRITIC'S REVIEW:
"Fans of old-fashioned, rustic, kick-butt Zin from Amador County will find a lot to like in this ripe and rustic offering. Its ripe berry, minerally aromas are more concentrated than they are complex, and its brawny structure owes nothing to refinement, yet as we have seen with wines from this vineyard, all it takes to show them at their best is plate of sauce-slathered pork ribs hot from the barbecue." Rated: 88
- as taken from Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines via www.wineaccess.com
MY REVIEW:
This wine was my first endeavor into the Zinfandel variety of wine, and it did not disappoint. The bouquet of the wine, when first uncorked, was a strong, oak smell with hints of berry. The color was a rich purple--think the color of overripe raspberries, a dark pinkish purple. Upon first taste, as in immediately out of the bottle, the wine had a strong, oak flavor, much like a whiskey would have, minus the alcoholic burn. It was light to medium bodied with a smooth, slightly chocolate (like cocoa powder) finish. Upon the next day, the wine's bouquet was much more mellow in the oak smell, leaving a headier scent of blackberry and chocolate. The finish was much the same.
This wine was tasty, but drinker beware! If you are looking for a sweet or fruity tasting wine, then this one just isn't for you. This particular wine was very dry and tannic, leaving a dry, cocoa powder taste upon my tongue. I did not, however, try this wine with food,which might downplay some of this dryness. I believe that this wine would pair very well with a creamier cheese, such as Swiss. The finish and overall presentation of this wine would make it ideal to tote with you to dinner with anyone you hope to impress. It is a fantastic buy for under $20.
--ACB
Please check out the male's perspective (and my favorite tasting buddy's) blog review on this wine at:
For the full links on the Critic's Review, please follow:
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