Tobin James French Camp Vineyard Zinfandel

[Innkeeper]

1999 Tobin James, Paso Robles, French Camp Vineyard, Zinfandel ($28). This is one of three single vineyard zins that came in TJs fall shipment. It was one of those "Ageable for a few years, but you can definitely enjoy it now" deals. OK, we did enjoy it now, but will hang onto the other two for a "few years."

Raspberries and more berries on the nose and upfront. More jammy fruit with pepper and spice added to the complexity crossing the palate. Tannin was a tad harsh, but you know us, who cares. Nice finish. Matched it with oven cooked country ribs in a hot tomato barbeque sauce with limas. Wonderful?

This and the other two single vineyard zins are only avaiable to the James Gang. Call: 805-239-2204.

[Innkeeper]

2000 Tobin James, Zinfandel, French Camp Vineyard, ($28). Unfortuately the restaurant we took the gang to yesterday did not have a corkage policy, so we settled for a bottle of Rancho Zabaco, Dancing Bull, Zin to share. After arriving home, we uncorked the French Camp. It was very appropriately like a dessert wine. It weighed in at 16.1% alcohol, but was not hot at all. The jammy fruit abosorbed it all. Absolutely well worth waiting a year for. There is a bottle of the '01 resting down there for next year!