TN: 2007 Linne Calodo Problem Child

WINE TALK
1

I opened this after work yesterday and finally choked it down today. The label states that the wine is 72% Zinfandel, 16% Syrah, and 12% Mourvedre, and it lists the abv at 16%. I could have made a pretty good guess at one of those percentages without looking at the label. The wine is extremely dark in the glass, with a nose of violets and alcohol. In the mouth, the wine is viscous, heavy, and sweet. I was able to detect some pepper, spice and tar, but the alcohol and hyper-extraction overpowered those elements for me. Maybe time will help this bottle, but I have my doubts since the alcohol comes through so strongly at the moment. Good thing I don’t have to drive anywhere tonight.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional wine writer, and Robert Parker gave this wine 93 points.

2

Not sure about the over-extraction calming down, but alcohol never integrates, from what I understand. It will always be ‘hot’.

3

That is my understanding as well. I don’t have high hopes at all. I have a few more of these, and I guess I’ll put them out at a party in the next year or two.

4

Seems like Linne Calado is trending more and more in this direction. A few vintages ago, I recall a more restrained wine.

5

Brad,
This has been my experience with most of the Linne Calodo wines, Non wine geeks seem to love the stuff ( parties that I have had). I am still holding on to some '05’s and parties are the only time I open them with great results.