1998 Topolos Zinfandel

19998 Topolos Bella Lisa Zinfandel 13.3% alc. This bottle has been in my cellar since we visited the winery in probably 2001. I remember that we opened a first bottle from Topolos shortly after returning from the trip and immediately asked ourselves what had we done. It is being kind to say that first bottle was not pleasant. A second bottle opened shortly after the first was worse, completely undrinkable. The rest sat in the cellar until a cull a year or two ago where we opened another bottle and determined it was drinkable if not exciting and returned the other two to the cellar. Opened tonight with Chinese take out. Surprised to find a pleasant drink that is medium bodied with some acidity and displaying red fruit with some eucalyptus. Not very complex but enough to be interesting. Who would have ever thought that a zin from a "bad year" made by Topolos would be better at 12 years of age than at 4. I have one Topolos left, another zin from a different vineyard and can't wait to see how it taste at 15 years old.

Yeah, '98 was considered a bad year, but some of the best Zins I've ever had were '98s. I'm drinking a wonderful Ridge Lytton Springs right now. '98 generated tannic wines, and of course Topolos is another word for megatannic. I guess I'm not surprised by your experience. My experience with Topolos is that they do reward time, and become at least ok, if not all that marvelous in my opinion.

John

Surprised, Brian...very surprised.
Towards the end of Topolos, their wines, across the board, displayed a raging volatility. Some of the highest EA in any wines I can recall.
That's something that doesn't go away w/ btl age. Sounds like you lucked out on that one.
Tom

So last night with red beans and rice we opened the last of the 1998 Topolos zins, this one the Rossi Ranch. Almost the same profile as the last one I opened so no new note. Just amazed again at how these bottles with time transformed to something pleasant if not great. Just for the record this bottle also showed no flaws.

Tom: I remember visiting Topolos back in the '90s and your observations are right on. Do you have any idea what became of the place? Got the feeling that there was some good material lurking under some horrendous winemaking. Apropos the Alicante Bouchet thread, I think they made a massively dark and extracted version which was almost drinkable....