Ok, be gentle, this is only my second post. I have just recenly started collecting wines, rather than just buying a bottle and consuming it.
On a recent trip to napa, we visited Sterling, just to see the place. They had a tasting of their cellar club zin, and they had it advertised at 50% off. We bought a case.
We live within driving distance, so I know the case never was exposed to heat other than our trip back in the ac.
I have had it in the vinotemp every since and the wife just opened a bottle.
She brought in a glass and asked me to taste it and tell her what I thought it was. My first guess (and hers too) was it smelled and tasted like a port. Of course the alcohol and sweetness of the port is not there, but from the smell, and taste, you would easily guess thats what it was. There is no way you would guess its a zin.
Tasting at wineries can be tricky. You certainly wouldn’t be the first on this board to wonder “WTF did I buy that for?”. Practice can improve things.
Doesn’t sound like the wine was flawed. Zins come in a very wide range of ripeness levels. If you haven’t, you should try zins from Ridge (their late picked Zins can be quite port-like)…and Nalle to explore the other side of the spectrum. Sometimes 50% off isn’t a great deal.
I am completely new to collecting, (not that I think the sterling was collecting wine, we thought it was a deal for everyday wine). I have already learned a few things the hard way. I have believed a few of the wine emails I receive and purchased quantities of wine based on the email, only to be disappointed in the wine when it arrives.
Overripe zin that takes on port-like qualities is not rare, but that doesn’t mean you should just suffer with a wine you don’t like, and that’s not like what you tasted, especially since you bought a whole case. Since you live within driving distance of the winery, if your next bottle is the same, why not drive over with the bottle (and the rest of your case in case it’s flawed and can be exchanged) and let the winery staff taste? I have to think they would do something to make you a happier customer, even if they find nothing wrong with the wine.
Gift it to people who wouldn’t know the difference, take it to a bbq etc…! That’s usually how I deplete less than stellar purchases.
You surely have to be wary of the email offers. If the wine is as good as the praise they give it then why is it being offered so cheap? If it’s something I am not experienced with I will investigate Cellar Tracker notes. Not just tasting notes but average purchase price, drinking windows, bottles in inventory, past vintages… Lot’s of good info available along with the ability to follow input from those you find have similar tastes.
I’m a newbie to collecting wine as well and have found Cellar Tracker and Wine Berserkers to be two of my best resources.
I agree with Glenn. Bet they were discounting the past vintage while pouring the current vintage for you and the wife. Too bad…but don’t worry much, just have it tucked away for party wine during the Holiday Season!
My thoughts exactly. Use in cooking unless you take it back as suggested above. Definitely try one more bottle in case it was an anomaly the first try.
Years elapsed between the time you bought the wine and the time you first tried it and it’s simply gone downhill.
I’d rule out #3 by opening a second bottle and if it tastes the same AND if #4 isn’t true then I’d call and return the wine. It’s one thing to say “cook with it” when talking about a bottle or two, but a case? nuh uh…
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