Big Red Monster Zinfandel

 I was in search of a fruity, jammy red wine and so the omniscient clerks at Vintage Cellar recommended the Big Red Monster Zinfandel from Paso Robles, a winery in San Lucas, California. The bottle cost $19, had a high alcohol content of 15% ABV, and had an extremely pretty label on the front. This Zinfandel actually contained three different grape varieties: Zinfandel, Tannat, and Sirah.

From an expert review I read here, I was given tasting notes of blueberry, plum, and blackberry cobbler with a smooth and juicy finish. It was a very dark red just like the description. The color I would use to describe it is medium purple.

Upon opening and decanting using an aerator, we detected the bold and lush aroma of the wine immediately. The scent of blackberry and other dark fruits was very enticing. There was a slight burn in the nose from the alcohol, but this makes sense since it has a very high percentage.

The taste was absolutely delicious and just what I was looking for. It was very jammy, with strong fruit flavors. I would say that the wine had a good level of sweetness for me, but it was by no means a sweet wine. I have learned from my friends that often what I am describing as "sweet" is just "fruity." It had a lovely medium-full body. It was mildly astringent due to the tannins, but not overly dry. The acid of the wine was very well in balance. I could see this wine pairing very well with a protein laden meal like steak.

From pages 189, 174, and 172 of Wine Folly, I have gathered tasting descriptions of the three grape varieties in this Zinfandel. Sirah (or as it is listed in the book, Syrah) has notes of blueberries, plums, milk chocolate, tobacco, and green peppercorn. Tannat has notes of plum, black currant, licorice, smoke, and cardamom. Zinfandel has notes of blackberry, strawberry, peach preserves, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco. All three grapes have medium to high levels of body and tannins. The tasting notes from these three grapes that I got the most were blueberries, blackberries, and a hint of licorice.