WTN: Earthquake Zin

Michael David Earthquake Zinfandel 2013

We see so few US wines here that I feel it almost a duty to taste everyone that we do see. Sometimes that has been a very good thing: I did really enjoy some Ridges we had. But with this kind of Zin I wish I hadn't bothered. I just looked up the word "jammy" in a dictionary and it had the name of this wine as the entry. It's about as subtle and as painful as a knuckle sandwich. 15,5% abv and no structure so it tastes sweet. I'd like more Ridge here, please.

But is this the infamous Lodi terroir that makes it so sweet and structureless or was that a conscious decision by the winery?

Personally I've never had a Lodi Zin that impressed me. However, I did have an Earthquake Petit Sirah that was excellent.

Michael David Earthquake Zinfandel 2013

We see so few US wines here that I feel it almost a duty to taste everyone that we do see. Sometimes that has been a very good thing: I did really enjoy some Ridges we had. But with this kind of Zin I wish I hadn't bothered. I just looked up the word "jammy" in a dictionary and it had the name of this wine as the entry. It's about as subtle and as painful as a knuckle sandwich. 15,5% abv and no structure so it tastes sweet. I'd like more Ridge here, please.

But is this the infamous Lodi terroir that makes it so sweet and structureless or was that a conscious decision by the winery?

Yup, Otto...that's pretty much the style of the Earthquake Zin. Jammy is pretty apt. It's not the Lodi
terroir that makes it that way...just a stylistic choice. The lodi terroir in reds is pretty distinct to me...
earthy/loamy/mushroomy...and often big jammy fruit. But there are some Lodi Zins that are not that
style. They're few & far between & you're not going to find them in Helsinki.
Tom

Otto, could not agree more. Tasted 2 yrs ago..yuck.

Agree. detestable stuff, but it sure is popular.

It's the Rombauer Chardonnay of red wines.

Agree. detestable stuff, but it sure is popular.

It's the Rombauer Chardonnay of red wines.

Awwwwww, Brian.....low-blow there.
Rombauer is the poster-child for over-oaked/over-ripe/buttery/fat/soft Calif Chard. Or, at least, it
once was. But the Rombauer Carneros Chard (low-$30's) is not that at all and is actually
pretty good. Not profound and not IPoB worthy, but pretty good. Try one sometime.
Tom

So a question for TomH: What Lodi Zins might one find on the east coast (in a shop, not ordering online, etc.) which exhibit what you feel is the Lodi terroir, without excessive jam? A number of the Lodi bottles I come across appear to be either commercial 'labels' or somewhat obscure smaller places.

So a question for TomH: What Lodi Zins might one find on the east coast (in a shop, not ordering online, etc.) which exhibit what you feel is the Lodi terroir, without excessive jam? A number of the Lodi bottles I come across appear to be either commercial 'labels' or somewhat obscure smaller places.

Joe,
I think the Lodi Zins from Turley/Carlisle/Bedrock display a more elegant/refined of Lodi Zin.
The Lodi Zin project Zins were all rather good. Beyond those, hard to say. But you should be
able to find the Turleys.
Tom

[Jenise]

Otto, as others have said it's very popular with the un-cognoscenti. It sells well to people who typically never pay more than $15 for a bottle of wine and who would never think to look at the abv on the bottle before purchase. An acquaintance is a big fan, and she's someone with a horrendous sweet tooth. She can't detect the sweetness--she just says it tastes "smooth".

Best to pass on all Lodi wines--I do.

[Jenise]

Otto, btw, had our first Pattes Loup last night. Wow! Thanks again for the recommendation.

So a question for TomH: What Lodi Zins might one find on the east coast (in a shop, not ordering online, etc.) which exhibit what you feel is the Lodi terroir, without excessive jam? A number of the Lodi bottles I come across appear to be either commercial 'labels' or somewhat obscure smaller places.

Joe,
I think the Lodi Zins from Turley/Carlisle/Bedrock display a more elegant/refined of Lodi Zin.
The Lodi Zin project Zins were all rather good. Beyond those, hard to say. But you should be
able to find the Turleys.
Tom

Did a quick look and the Lodi Zins from the producers you mention tend to go $30+/bottle here, so I would probably not be buying any at those prices. I last had some Turleys when the name was synonymous with high alcohol, super extracted wines; it still seems odd to see that name mentioned in a discussion of 'elegant/refined' wines!

So a question for TomH: What Lodi Zins might one find on the east coast (in a shop, not ordering online, etc.) which exhibit what you feel is the Lodi terroir, without excessive jam? A number of the Lodi bottles I come across appear to be either commercial 'labels' or somewhat obscure smaller places.

Joe,
I think the Lodi Zins from Turley/Carlisle/Bedrock display a more elegant/refined of Lodi Zin.
The Lodi Zin project Zins were all rather good. Beyond those, hard to say. But you should be
able to find the Turleys.
Tom

Did a quick look and the Lodi Zins from the producers you mention tend to go $30+/bottle here, so I would probably not be buying any at those prices. I last had some Turleys when the name was synonymous with high alcohol, super extracted wines; it still seems odd to see that name mentioned in a discussion of 'elegant/refined' wines!

Turley is tarred & feathered for that style from the early days when HelenTurley made the wines, Joe. When EhrenJordan took over winemaking, and now under TeganPassalaqua, the style has changed condiderably. The wines are not as extracted, much less oak...though the alcohol on the Zins can still be high. But I think the wines are much more expressive of the vnyd (that terroir thing that wine geeks blabber on & on about) and much more interesting.
Tom