Price Point for Zin

[oostexan]

I dunno guys, Zin prices seem to be ticking up. Good Zins are consistently edging over the magic 20 buckos line and I am having a hard time justifying that much dough for the more hedonistic pleasure I derive from the varietal. Maybe I should not consider them the guilty pleasure that I do, but once you get into the 25 plus category you start to bump into some darn good company.

How do you guys feel about paying this much for Zins? Granted, I have not been drinking them for long, but is there really a market for Zins this expensive?

I would be curious to hear how others prioritize wallet share to fill their cellars.

[Innkeeper]

We stay with the less expensive ones except for those that come with the James Gang (our big extravagance). For the QPR ones, it is hard to beat the Bogle Old Vines. For $10-$12 it is as good or better than many over $20.

[californiagirl]

Michael David and the Lodi region has some very nice Zins for $11-13 range. Consider 7 Deadly Zins. I also 2nd IK's suggestion. Bogle has great QPR time & time again. As does Bonny Doon.

[Bucko]

I'd like to ask if anyone has lost their zeal for Zin? I used to love the stuff and now I could care less about it. I can appreciate the wine but I don't drink it.

[hotwine]

We drink very little Zin... too many of 'em are fruit bombs with super-charged alcohol, IMHO. Prefer grace and surprises, as opposed to a club over the head. Just one lone opinion from the hinterland.

[winoweenie]

Still on the regular menu here at the weeners horse-stop. However, Looking back, most of the zins I've been drinking are older with some whiskers on 'em and with the exception of the Scherrers and Ridges haven't been adding any new ones to the pile. WW

[wondersofwine]

$30 was at one time my limit for any domestic wine and I still only rarely go over that for domestic wines. Ridge has been holding around the $30 point for their excellent zinfandel-based wines. Carolina Wine Company has an old vine Zinfandel from Eric Ross normally at about $20 but currently on special for about $14. I have also bought some Rosenblum zins on sale (but still over $20). I do pick and choose on zinfandel and buy more pinot noir than zins.

[Drew]

We still drink a lot of zin as they pair so well with spicy bbq and dry rubs that we often prepare...rarely though go over $20. I'm a poor retired public servant living on a fixed income [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Drew

[winoweenie]

My eyes be filled wif' tears. WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[stevebody]

I'll weigh in on the Jesse's Grove, Cedarville, Ballantine Napa, Gnekow's Campus Oaks, Jed Steele's Shooting Star Lake County, and the Hendry Block 7. Only the Hendry is over $20 and they all show great varietal character. My fave: Ballantine.

[Drew]

oostexan, would also rec. trying some of the inexpensive and wonderful field blends eg.
Marietta Old Vine Red lot #? (they're at lot #36 now, they don't have vintages), Laurel Glen Reds and others I can't remember now. They're blends of mostly Zin with Petite Syrah and Carrignan...delicious.

Drew