Im sure this has been discussed before but im interested in peoples thoughts. How would you rank these as the best zin makers, any ive missed please add, thinking of multiple wines though not just a single zin.
Bedrock
Carlisle
Turley
Ridge
Cypher
Based on my cellar it would be Carlisle, Bedrock, Ridge then a big drop off. Never heard of Cypher. Used to include Turley but those bottles were problematic.
I think Seghesio should be on the list. I’m personally a huge fan of Chase, but I don’t know their general popularity.
Never heard of Cypher, but I can’t stop looking at their homepage. ![[berserker.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/8/8600bbd4810d342b8fbd4ffb62b4f0026275fd37.gif "berserker"){kind=small}
I am a huge fan of Carlisle, Bedrock, Ridge, Rafanelli, Outpost, Williams Selyem (yes they make Zin) and others. That being said…what Turley does across the state (Amador, Lodi, Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles) is simply amazing. Each and every single vineyard Zin they produce is special in its own right. On top of that the Juvenile and Old Vines are great values.
Tom
No idea if they’re the best, but my favorite is easily Nalle.
Excited to try Berry’s zin, too.
Scherrer
Peterson
Good call on Nalle!
Cypher is the spin off from four vines, excellent wines and great value
Plus how can you not buy Zinbitch !
Actually, that would immediately cease my interest of this wine in the absence of this thread.
More votes for Scherrer and Ridge. No list can possibly be considered without both of those - a combined 60+ years of making Zinfandel just in those two.
Jumping to mind:
Scherrer
Bucklin
Ridge
Bedrock
Turley
Chester’s Anvil
Grant Eddie
+2 Nalle
I mentioned this on the swan thread, but my favorite Zin is the Joseph Swan Mancini Zin. The last couple years have been outstanding.
I’ve had carlisles, bedrocks, and all that jazz but this is my favorite.
I had an older swan stellwagen Zin a couple of years ago that was great too. Super brambly.
Scott
Ridge
Guilty pleasure The Terraces Napa Valley
No Zinfandel list is complete without Ravenswood. They all have their own style so it’s hard to choose best. Just favorites.
Carlisle
BedrocK
Biale
Scherrer
Mauritson
Ridge
Nalle
Turley
Wine Guerrilla
Talty
Bella
Ridge. For me it’s not even close.
Not really a spin off. Christian and Billy (and a third partner) sold four vines. Billy stayed with four vines and Christian kept the old four vines tasting room and rights to several of the wines. Billy is the significant other of J Dusi and Cypher continues on as a boutique winery.
Hard to argue with Ridge - but for me Seghesio nails it every year - and for a Zin that you can find on sale most regularly for $15-$17 bucks - it’s one of California’s greatest wine bargains.
I have yet to be impressed by ridge, ravenswood or seghesio.
Turley is my #1
Bedrock rocks
Then Carlisle