Autumn BBQs Call for Zinfandel (the RED stuff!)

Did you know…?

The black-skinned grape we know in the US as Zinfandel had its origins in what is now Croatia. In Italy, wines made from this grape are called Primitivo, and in Croatia they are sometimes called Tribidrag.

Zinfandel wines can be sparkling or still, sweet or dry, pink or red. In this post, we are going to focus on my favorite type of Zinfandel: the BIG RED!

I love a good Zinfandel. As a matter of fact, I am drinking one right now. I was supposed to save these bottles for a tasting that I am hosting in a couple of weeks but this wine is just too good and, to quote Jay Leno’s comment about Doritos, “they’ll make more”.

“So, tell us what you’re drinking, will ya!?”

Well, since you asked, it’s the 2017 Rockpile Zinfandel from Wattle Creek. And it will probably be gone before dinner is ready.

Which is both good news and bad news.

Good news, because this wine is lovely. It’s a powerful zinfandel at 15% ABV, with good acid and smooth tannins.

“So what’s the bad news?” you ask? (C’mon, say it out loud so I can hear you!)

The bad news is that this is my last bottle (at the moment) and I picked this wine to serve tonight because it goes so well with the (veggie) burgers and onions that we are grilling! I guess I’ll have to pick something else from the cellar to go with dinner!

2017 Wattle Creek Rockpile Zinfandel

For those of you who are interested, here are the tech notes for this amazing zin:

• Appellation: Rockpile

• Varietal: Zinfandel

• Alcohol: 15%

• PH: 3.67

• T/A: 5.7g/L

• Aging:

  • 20 months in 100% French oak 

  • 25% New

It’s got just enough oak on it to enhance the jammy flavors! I can’t get enough of this stuff. I hope JCB takes Jay Leno’s words to heart!