Norm's Tasting Notes
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net
normwine@charter.net
2010 - 2016 Gnarly Head Zinfandel
#nb-46-17
I recently tasted the 2016 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin and thought, "just as good as ever!" Another writer had this to say: " I have tried several red zinfandels this past year, and this one is outstanding for the price. Bold, jammy, smooth, and peppery, (4 stars)
So instead of a new article, I am showing the consistency of this wine by showing two articles I wrote six years apart. (Norm's score 88)
This article was written in December of 2010:
Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
2008 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel
#nb-24-10
Old vines mean great wine! The 2008 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel really isn't great, just really good, but when you factor in the under ten dollar price, it is a great buy! The noted wine writer Wilford Wong scored it an 87 and said, "A joyous, table wine zin, the easy drinking '08 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin has plenty of character but without hard tannins that often make the older vines too hard; finishes well."
This is a hearty Zinfandel with aromas of blackberry, which sail into flavors of spice and rich laryers of dark berries. The finish has oak in it, but not overpowering, with jammy and peppery notes at the end. This wonderful Zinfandel is smooth enough for a plate of spaghetti, but with enough backbone to stand up to barbecued venison, or any other hearty meat dish.
Someone once asked me what was the best wine for barbecue, and I replied, beer or sweet ice tea. That was before my first taste of an old vine Zinfandel! The Gnarly Head old vines are grown down in Lodi, California, and are between 35 and 80 years old. They produce smaller quantities of grapes with more intense juice, which is the perfect match for any barbecue except chicken. The wine is just a little too powerful for chicken, but as I said before, it is great with spaghetti! Norm's score is 89.
Price - $8 - $10
Score - 89
This article was written in July of 2017:
The North Georgia Wine Advisor
2015 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel
It ain't just "Gnarly Dude", its Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin, and it is one of the better choices in the market place for a ten dollar bottle of red wine. A big jammy wine made from gnarly, twisted old vines between 30 and 80 years old from Lodi, California. So here I am, along with Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Stuck in Lodi again!"
This is a rich, jammy Zinfandel with a nose full of dark berries. The predominate flavor is blackberry, with a little plum and spice. The wine has a layer of mild tannin at the end, with gobs of big fruit in the finish. The alcohol content is 14.5% and Norm's score is 88.
This is a great wine for barbecue, and would also pair well with almost any grilled meat.
Norm
WINE – God’s Proof of his Love for Humanity
