It’s often said that Zinfandel is the most American of grapes. The same could be said about Thanksgiving when it comes to Holidays. As it happens Zinfandel is a perfect choice for your Holiday table for a number of reasons that include, it’s ability to pair with a wide range of favors, the tremendous value it offers, and how delicious and crowd pleasing it can be.
The typical Thanksgiving Table is filed with dishes that are savory and sweet, spicy and sometimes gooey. Zinfandel is primed to hold serve on all of those, and quite frankly more. Depending on site, picking choices and winemaking techniques well-made Zinfandels can be structured and spicy, big and boisterous, or fruity and earthy delights.
Zinfandel has crowd appeal. They most often feature lots of eager fruit of various shades. Those flavors can go down easy and please the various palates of those you’re enjoying your meal with. They can also have the depth, structure and persistence to keep the more wine savvy of your friends happy.
Even many of the higher priced Single Vineyards out there offer a tremendous amount of value for your purchasing dollar. But if you want a real steal of a deal, look no further than the better Zinfandels available in the $25 and under tier. These are often (but not always) broader in scope. Sometimes appellation cuvees for example.
I always drink at least my fair share of Zinfandel, but this year I’ve dug in a bit deeper and tasted every example I’ve had the opportunity to sample. If you want to read about some of the great Single Vineyard Zinfandels from Legendary Vineyards I tasted over this year, just click here. Today though, I present nine $25 or under Zinfandels that are all well made, incredibly delicious and terrific values. In several cases, which I’ll note, the wines are Zinfandels that I’ve been drinking for many years with consistently satisfying results.
Pedroncelli 2018 “Mother Clone” Zinfandel ($19)
This Dry Creek Valley Zin comes from the hills surrounding the winery. The name is derived from the fact that when they replanted this site in the early 80’s they used Clones from the same vineyards, originally planted in 1904. Some of those vines still exist and are part of the wine. An early 90’s vintage of Mother Clone was the first Zinfandel to knowingly pass my lips some 25 plus years ago. In the time since this wine has in so many ways become my benchmark for Zinfandel. It’s always approachable, affordable and just so delicious to drink. I’ve bought cases of it, had the opportunity to try older vintages of it and I’ve shared it with way too many friends and family to count. I’ve probably pulled the cork on more bottles of Mother Clone than any other specific wine. I keep coming back because it always makes me, and anyone I pour it for, happy. The 2018 is no exception. It has 10% Petite Sirah blended in which provides good backbone. Dark berries drive the aromatics. Blackberry, raspberry and a core of spices are evident on the palate. Those characteristics continue on the above average finish alongside hints of vanilla bean.
Peachy Canyon 2017 Westside Zinfandel ($20)
Primitivo, Alicante Bouschet, and Petite Sirah are blended into Peach Canyon’s flagship Zinfandel. Black raspberry and a core of spices drive the aromatics. The palate leans towards red fruit with strawberry, rhubarb and hints of raspberry. The spiciness continues on the long finish along with hints of black tea and vanilla. This is an approachable and impeccably proportionate example of Zinfandel that represents a terrific value one vintage after another.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2017 “Old VInes” Zinfandel ($22)
14% Petite Sirah and 5% Mixed blacks are blended with 81% Zinfandel in this Sonoma County Wine. The fruit comes from Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley. At a production of just under 39,000 cases, this Zin will be on a lot of shelves. The nose brings to mind a bowl of fresh berries sitting on the counter. That continues on the palate where juicy red and black fruit are joined by cranberry and sour black cherry. Cardamom and peppercorn are evident on the solid finish. Bottom line here is that it’s tasty, readily available and priced to move.
Bear Flag 2017 Zinfandel ($24)
This is largely Zinfandel with small amounts of Petite Sirah and other varieties blended in. The fruit was sourced from a number of AVA’s within Sonoma County. The screen painted bottle looks glorious on the shelf and the wine looks and smells great in your glass. This is approachable, easy drinking, juicy Zinfandel with dollops of richness, and more than sufficient depth. The red fruit on the nose and the darker leaning fruit on the palate are joined by scores of spice and wisps of minerality on the finish. All of it adds up to a wine with lots of Curb Appeal.
Mettler Family Vineyards 2018 “Epicenter” Old Vine Zinfandel ($25)
Epicenter is entirely Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi. First and foremost the Mettler Family are farmers. It’s something they’ve done for over 100 years and 6 generations. They utilize a tiny portion of the fruit they grow to make some wines too. I’ve had the last couple of vintages of their Zinfandel, as well as other Mettler wines and have been quite impressed with the quality in the bottle at the price point. The latest vintage of their Zinfandel epitomizes their ability to overdeliver. Dark and brooding fruit aromas as joined by bits of leather and chicory. The palate shows off blackberry, boysenberry and savory herbs. It all leads to an above average finish studded with spice and bits of toast. This tasty Zin benefits from about 30 minutes of air, so decant if possible for best results.
Easton 2015 Zinfandel ($25)
This 2015 Zinfandel is an Amador County Cuvee. The fruit is sourced from mountain sites. Red fruit aromas jump from the nose alongside white peppercorn. The palate shows off cherry, strawberry and rhubarb. It’s stuffed with eager and delectable red fruit flavors. The finish is lengthy and persistent. Two things impress me the most here. There’s a lightness on the tongue when you sip this that simply invites you back for additional sips. There’s also a vein of acid running through that keeps things fresh and vivacious.
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2017 Old Vines Zinfandel ($25)
I’ve been drinking and recommending Rodney Strong wines for many years and there are a few reasons for that. They’re always well made, delicious, and represent their place (Sonoma County) well. And on top of that there is nearly always more value in the bottle than whatever the sticker price says. This 2017 Old Vines Zinfandel tows the line on all of those points. This offering combines fruit from their Russian River Valley Vineyard planted in 1904 with fruit from both Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley. The result is a Zin loaded with fresh red berries on the nose and darker fruits such as blackberry on he palate. A triumvirate of black, white and green peppercorn are evident on the finish along with vanilla bean and a final kiss of black plum.
Paydirt 2018 “Going For Broke” Zinfandel ($25)
81% Zinfandel, this wine also has Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Mourvedre, Barbera, and Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. This is a bit of a California Cuvee with fruit coming from Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley, Amador, Lodi, and Marin County. This was my first time having this wine, and it won’t be my last. The heady aromatics lean towards dark jam with an undercurrent of citrus zest peeking through. The flavors here are an immediately appealing burst of red and black fruit. Red and black raspberry are of particular note. The persistent finish shows off bits of chocolate sauce, spice and hints of chicory
Three Wine Company 2016 Old Vines Contra Costa County Zinfandel ($25)
Having recently tried Three Wine Company’s “Live Oak” Zinfandel, I was eager to sample another of their selections. 8% each Carignane, Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouschet are blended with 76% Zinfandel here. The average age of the vines is over 100 and they’re dry farmed. Everything about this wine impresses. It has depth, precision, length and oodles of proportionate fruit. This Zin is like a well oiled machine with every part running perfectly. Up front there’s dark fruit in the form of blueberries and blackberries, they’re buttressed by bits of violet. The palate is stuffed with red and black cherries and peppercorn. A sprinkling of spice and hints of espresso and chicory all appear on the long finish. Textbook Old Vine Zin.