2009 Valdez Family Sonoma Zinfandel

[andrawes76]

I got a bottle straight from Ulesis Valdez, right after bottling and this wine is amazingly concentrated. Deep rich fruit, crushed cherry, the right kind of jammy and some cigar box with oak spice producing a rich long finish. Holds up very well. Tasted with a group of 9 people and the average score was a 91. Be on the look out this is a must have zinfandel.

[winoweenie]

No metion of price. The 40% off you mentioned about their Rockpile vanished when I tried to order. The 38 per on the R-pile is higher than the Ridges'. They need to review the economy, their standing in the wine community and then price accordingly IMHO. They aren't the only ones out-of-touch with reality today. WW (Scherrer and Swan are gtrat guideposts for them to use. If they are making better zins than these 2 Icons you'll have to show me and they're getting DOUBLE the price.)

[andrawes76]

I will agree with you on the Scherrer and the Swan, heck you introduced me to them. Thankful for that but I haven't had a Ridge Zinfandel that I enjoyed in a LONG time. Clicker Brick, Biale, Four Vines Sophisticate are a few others that have made me really fall back in love with zinfandel. Call Ulises and tell him to send you a bottle of the 2009 Sonoma Zinfandel he just made, even if it costs you $30/bottle. You tell me. If its not to your standards, then call me a horses ass on the Wine Board and I will humbly accept that title... Zins should be priced rightfully at $20/bottle if they expect to move but sometimes thats not the case. For example the Argentine's are price sticklers who believe their wines are god's gift. Perhaps that's the French rubbing off on them.

[winoweenie]

Alex the point I was trying to make is that NO matter how good they think their product is until they get a track record there's no way in hades I'll pay more than what I can get a bottle from an established, quality producer who's product has been a solid performer for 30+ years. I'll buy 1&1/2 bottles of the aforementioned 2 for one of the new guy on the block. I've had Swans and Scherrers at age 20 that blew me away. When and if Ulisis can show that record I'll stay with my tried and proven. WW ( P.S. I don't own a bottle of Argentian stuff)