Tag: Zinfandel
Red, White, and Rosé Wine Values for Summer Sipping, Parties, and Picnics
We tasted several hundred value wines over the past six months and narrowed this selection to those priced under $25 and scoring 15/88 to 17/92 on the respective 20-point and 100-point scales. The 22 wines are from five...
Read MoreFavorite Wines of 2025 – Bordeaux, California Cabernet, Italian, and Other Reds
As noted in the first posting of notes on my favorite wines from 2025, covering Burgundy and Pinot Noir, good values can be found from the top wine-producing regions of the world. The caveat: trust the best producers from each...
Read MoreWine Values from 6 Countries, 16 Appellations
I tag wines with a value designation based on their pricing relative to other wines in their category, and something I’m pleased to sip around the house as our vin ordinaire or with friends. This ranges from party wines of...
Read MorePetite Sirah: Big Wines for Bold Dishes
Petite Sirah, despite its somewhat misleading name, is anything but small. The grape originated in France in the mid-19th century, created by botanist François Durif, who crossed Syrah with an obscure varietal called Peloursin....
Read MoreAre Old Vine California Zinfandels Better?
Jerry Feitelson, founder and gang leader of the Carmel Valley Wine Club, organized its 344th blind tasting in June 2025, which “tried to test the hypothesis that California Zinfandel wines made from Old (>35 years) vs. Young...
Read MoreTasting Notes from Domaine Drouhin, Duckhorn, Far Niente, and Frank Family
Winery dinner tastings are a quick way to learn more about the wines from each operation, their philosophies and stories, and how the selections pair with food. The approach is less clinical and much more fun than at blind...
Read MoreLatest Finds in White and Red Wine Values
The following wines, priced from $15 to $33, emerged from recent tastings, offering fine values in what the French call vin ordinaire (we categorize them as weekday and party wines, saving the best and rarest for weekends and...
Read MoreGood Values and Choices Abound in Pre-Holiday Wine Sales
New vintages are on the way through the global distribution channels, and now is a good time to look for older wines going on sale at merchants trying to clear inventory – from your favorite local wine shop to the large chains...
Read MoreEasy-Sipping Picnic, Party, and Patio Wines
This may be a new category, but we are always looking for good values in daily wines (vin ordinaire to the French) with a high quality-to-value ratio (QVR). This includes for easy-sipping with friends on a casual evening,...
Read MoreBBQ, Burger and Beef Loving Red Wines, $12 to $38
As summer fades to fall, most wine drinkers are on the hunt for robust reds to fend off any chills (inner and outer) and as a match for heartier dishes. This can range from a grilled burger to Mediterranean-style flatbread,...
Read MoreGlobal Masters Judges Find Increased Quality, Values in Malbec
Malbec is gaining in global popularity as a lower-priced varietal that is a great match for a wide range of cuisine on its own or in blends with other Bordeaux varietals, or even racier grapes, such as Zinfandel, Syrah, and...
Read MoreEasy Sipping Party, Picnic, and Patio Wines Under $30
We do much of our searching for good values in quality wines at different Costcos in our region and screening discount daily offers from online merchants or big retail chains that help wineries clear inventories as new wines...
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