Best Zin under $15

[zenda2]

Trying to revive an earlier 'best buy' thread for other varieties for New Years, so why not Zin as well. What's your favorite Zin under $15? At that price point, I'll go with Za Zin from Laurel Glen or Rancho Zabaco Dry Creek but I'd love to find some others.

[joeyz6]

I just had Rancho Zabaco for the first time last night with my dad and was very pleased. Kinda makes it frustrating that I was paying 20 bucks a bottle for Paso Robles zin when I went out there for a visit this summer. Anyway, the 2001 Dancing Bull was a very good drinking experience, especially at $5.99 a bottle. It needed about an hour to decant and open up but it was well worth it. My dad and I are usually pretty modest drinkers but we sucked down the whole bottle.

[Drew]

Zenda, check out my November post http://www.wines.com/ubb2/Forum16/HTML/000210.html.
I particularly liked the 2001 SEGHESIO Sonoma at $14 and enjoy the entry level Peachy Canyon zins that can be found for under $15.

Drew

[joeyz6]

I like those Peachy Canyon zins also; bought a couple of them at the winery this summer. But at 15-20 a bottle, they're not quite as good a value as Rancho Zabaco, for example.

[Drew]

I think it's more like different styles. The Peachy Canyon wines being more elegant than the rustic styled Rancho, IMHO.

Drew

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited 12-29-2002).]

[stevebody]

Ballantyne Napa Valley. $14.99. I PROMISE you will swoon. I've slipped this stuff into blind tastings with Martinelli, Rafanelli, Hartford Court, and upper-end Ravenswoods three times and it came out first in two of them and second in the other. Awesome and I suspect it will soon cost more. Buy now!

[rden258]

I have to agree on the Ballentyne. I had the 97 a few months back. It was one of the cheapest bottles on the wine list (which is why I ordered it), but it was as good as any other zin I have ever tasted. I ended up drinking the whole bottle myself while on the Napa Valley wine train. The only time so far I have polished off a whole bottle myself in one night. Probably not the last [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img].

[Thomas]

I am partial to Pellegrini Old Vines--$15.

[Kcwhippet]

Cline - several versions thereof.

[stevebody]

Jeez...senility setting in. Totally forgot the Kenwood Lodi (I think it is), the Bogle Old Vines, the Rosenblum Cuvee with Whatever the Latest Number Is, the Franciscan Oakville (at a slightly higher price; about $16), the Shenandoah Vineyards, and the Renwood Sierra Foothills. All lovely and BIG. Oh, and the Viano Vineyards, which hit Seattle just last spring and was everybody's favorite $7 bottle of wine.