Wine Tasting: Zinfandel

Zin is always a fun tasting, and this was no exception. Hard to believe my last Zin tasting was March 2010. And I can still say, I've never had a Zin I didn't like. Thanks to all who came! Here's what we had, favorites in bold:

1. 2010 Fritz Dry Creek Zinfandel ($19): good, solid zin, but overshadowed by equal or better options for less money from Seghesio and Easton.
2. 2007 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Zinfandel ($30): in the big bottle, this was beautiful wine, as it is most every year, striking a lovely balance, showing less acid than #10, but still subtle and complex, and less sweet than #6. Helps that 2007 was a great vintage for Zin. 
3. 2006 Ridge Vineyards "Geyserville" Sonoma Zinfandel ($33): my standard for quality Zin that's meant to age, I buy it every year. This was very good (and very different from the 2010 vintage of the same wine that I opened for contrast), but I thought the Lytton edged it out.
4. 2010 Ridge Vineyards "Ponzo Vineyard" Russian River Zinfandel ($25): nice, much sweeter and fruit driven than the others from Ridge, which appears to be more about the vintage than the particular wine.
5. 2008 Bella Vetta "Jack's Cabin Vineyard" Rockpile Sonoma County Zinfandel ($25): smoky! This one split the crowd, with some really liking it (for you, I recommend trying some Rhone wines from France, or Spanish wine from Toro), others liking it the least.
6. 2011 Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel ($19): this wine sets the standard for under $20 Zin nearly every year. Still reliable, with lots of fruit, but without going over the edge into sweet fruit bomb territory. Good tannins. If you need a Zin at Safeway, this is what you should buy.
7. 2009 Unti Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ($26): another one that split the crowd. More structure and tannin than most of the others. I thought it was not well integrated, but others really liked it.
8. 2010 Easton Amador County Zinfandel ($14): great value, I thought this was nearly as good as the Seghesio, and for $5 less. Sonoma has dominated Zin, but looks like Amador is coming up!
9. 2010 Girard Napa Valley Petite Sirah ($25): Petite Sirah (no relation to Syrah) is the typical blending grape for Zins, so I dropped this in for contrast. Lots more tannin than any Zin, deep black color that stains your teeth. I really liked this. Would be the perfect wine for Little Star's deep dish pizza.
10. 2007 Scherrer "Shale Terrace" Alexander Valley Zinfandel ($30): another perennial favorite of mine, Scherrer makes a balanced, food-friendly Zin, where the dark sweet fruits are suppressed in favor of more red fruits and sour finish. This is great roast chicken wine. Very consistent from year to year, too.
11. 2008 Fritz Late Harvest Zinfandel ($35, 375ml): dessert wine, made from Zin grapes, like a light port. Absolutely lovely with chocolate, without being cloying. Only available from the winery, usually fewer than 200 cases made each year, and expensive. But worth the drive and the money.