Norm's Tasting Notes

by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2008 Bogle Old Vines Zinfandel
#nb-16-10

Big, fat, and jammy, and so good! No, I am not talking about a jelly roll, I am talking about the 2008 Bogle Old Vines Zinfandel. Mary the "Chardonnay Queen" said that "it tasted like somebody dropped a big old glob of blackberry jam into the middle of the glass!" Now everybody does not like "jammy", but I sure do! This Zinfandel is intense and very bold, with lots of big dark berry flavors swirling through it.

The Bogle Vineyards are located in the Sacramento Delta near Clarksburg, California, and the vines used to make this wine are about 45 to 80 years old. This Zinfandel has been aged for ten months in American Oak, which puts some tannin in its finish, and the wine is a sturdy 14.8% alcohol.

Many of the Italian immigrants who moved to California in the late 19th, and early 20th centuries, loved Zinfandel almost as much with their pasta as Chianti, and they planted a lot of Zinfandel throughout Northern California. Speaking of pasta, we enjoyed this bottle of Bogle Old Vines with a big plate of spaghetti covered with Norm's famous meat sauce. Spaghetti is always one of my most favorite meals, and this Zinfandel made it almost perfect!

This intense wine would also be great with any hearty stew, game meat, or barbecue. You won't find a better old vine Zinfandel in this price range. Norm's score is a 91.

Price - $10 - $14
Score - 91

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes available online at either:

dawsontimes.com or
pineisland-eagle.com