Okay, because I wanted my bargain Rosenblum zinfandel to have every opportunity to show at its best, we did have a nice steak dinner. You know, it’s sort of like putting on your Sunday best when you’re trying to make a good impression. If the wine showed poorly, I didn’t want to think it was because I didn’t give it my best shot.
So I chose the Sonoma Valley Maggie’s Reserve to go with the grilled T-Bones and Susie brought sauteed mushrooms. The dinner was delicious and the wine was a good complement although it quickly became apparent that most of the fruit was gone. No question that there was plenty of sharp pepper and spice and maybe a hint of licorice.(The label said a burst of eucalpytus but none of us detected any.) Not bad, but I do like fruit in my zinfandel. However, as it opened up in the glass, it became more mellow. It certainly did complement the hot red meat. No matter how well barbecued, there was still some nice fat — oops, I mean marbeling — in those steaks and the rich spice and pepper did a good job of cleansing the palate.
The label says the wine offers aromas of “wild raspberry, blackberry and a touch of vanilla.” Do you think wild raspberries smell different from cultivated raspberries?And how wild do those raspberries have to get, anyway? Do you suppose they go to parties and wear little lampshades on their heads? Hey, wild or tamed doesn’t matter — I love raspberries any way I can get them. And if there is a hint of raspberry aroma in a glass of wine, so much the better
A couple of nights later, I opened the other Rosenblum — the Harris Kratka Vineyard from the Alexander Valley which is at the north end of Sonoma. Now this one definitely had fruit on the palate. The label says “rich plum and cherry with flavors of ripe raspberry, currant, vanilla and spice,” and it all came through. Wow!
As soon as I walked into Marche Bacchus the week after I had picked up my four bottles of 2006 Rosenblum Zinfandel at the bargain price of $12.99, Tex sauntered up to me.
“Let me show you something.” He guided me to the “discount table” that the owner, Jeff, has by the door. There was the Rosenblum zinfandel marked down (it said) from $29.99 to $19.99. “Good thing we got it when we did,” Tex said with a laugh.
That’s one of those times where you wish you’d bought a few more bottles. But on the other hand, I’m just happy to have the ones I got. You never know about those bargain wines!
My friends had brought an Italian wine
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