Tried this last night w/ dinner:
1. JCCllrs Zin DusiRanch/WestSide/PasoRobles (15.5%; 129 cs; Drk: 11/11-11/17: JC; 15.2%) 2009: Very dark color; somewhat reduced/ozone/pungent/graphite/mineral some blackberry/boysenberry/Zin slight PR/jammy/ripe slight celery seed/smoky/toasty/oak interesting/atypical/unusual nose; slightly tart rather tannic/hard/structured some boysenberry/blackberry/PR Zin/jammy some pungent/toasty/charred/oak slight reduced/graphite/mineral flavor; fairly long rather tannic/hard/structured rather ripe/boysenberry/blackberry/PR Zin slight ripe/jammy finish; unusual PR Zin in that it's pretty hard & structured; fairly priced at $35.00
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A wee BP:
1. The grapes for this Zin (presumably) come from DanteDusi's Zin vnyd across 101 from BeniDusi's vnyd, which goes to Ridge. In the TempletonGap area. This was a very unusual rendition of Paso Zin in that iit was not overwhelmed by that jammy/Smucker's blackberry jam character that's common in WestSide Paso Zins of the more ripe genre. Even at 15.5% alcohol; it did not seem overripe and jammy..carried the alcohol well. What struck me about this wine was the rather hard tannins, almost like a Languedoc Red, rather than a Paso Zin. It clearly needs some age but, at this alcohol level, it may be a gamble. Interesting/unusual rendition of Paso Zin unlike any I can recall.
Tom