Paso Robles Cellars Zinfandel

[Innkeeper]

1998 Paso Robles Cellars (upscale Tobin James), Paso Robles, Zinfandel. It is a little discomfortable going from a nice inexpensive zin one day to an expensive bomb the next. Never-the-less this one turned out to be the best wine we've uncorked so far this year. Better than that Crozes-Hermitage in June. It came with the Spring '01 shipment from the James Gang. Think they listed it at around $35. We, of course, didn't pay that much. The occasion was Bev's birthday. Fixed one of here favorite dishes, curried lamb, made from leftover roast leg of lamb. Served it over Basmati rice, sprinkled with toasted coconut.

The wine was exquisite. Tons of blackberries and black cherries on the nose and upfront. The jammy complexity across the palate bordered on being syrupy; but not quite. Smooth and chewy tannin contributed to the depth of earthy flavor. The finish was five alarm. We had to leave before dessert for an important meeting. When we came back we each had another 5 oz of wine to finish. We sipped and sipped, little by little. Simply wonderful.