On Thursday, a group of seven wine aficionados, who call themselves the Vintage Wine Tasters, gathered together to taste and judge six Zinfandel wines from the 2006 vintage priced under $20. This group of veteran wine drinkers and wine collectors have been meeting informally for years. After much serious discussion, the group determined they needed to impart their expertise and wisdom on the Web 2.0 wine world. This post marks the first official public announcement of their wine tasting and recommendations.
Why go public now? Time is ripe for a new breed of wine critics. People are getting tired of the Robert Parker and the Wine Spectators of the world. It is time for a new voice that rocks the wine world. The Vintage Wine Tasters have years of wine-tasting experience dating back to the days of Hearty Burgundy and Red Mountain wine selling for one dollar a gallon.
Zinfandel Taste Off Results – Six Zinfandels Wines 2006 Vintage Under $20
Each individual ranked the wines using an innovative 25-point scale obtained free from the WCG Website. Then the individual place rankings were tallied to determine the favorite wine of the group.
First Place – Tie
- Sobon Rocky Top – $12.99 at several stores
- Rosenblum Alexander Valley Harris Krata Vineyard – $19.99 at K&L Wines, $30 elsewhere.
Third Place
- Quivira Dry Creek Valley – $15.50 at Costco
Fourth Place
- Homefire – $13.99 from Weimax Wine Shop in Burlingame
Fifth Place
- Sausal Alexander Valley – $17.99 at K&L Wines
Sixth Place
- Four Vines Old Vine Curvee – $11.99 at various wine shops
We enjoyed all the wines, and there was not one wine in the selection that we would consider to be a bad wine. If there was one, we would say so. All of these wines were enjoyable and tasty. The Rocky Top is obviously a good bargain at $12.99. The 2007 vintage of this wine has just been released. We hope it is as good as the 2006.
Good job! I’m tired of these pontificating snobs who talk about terroir, brix, et al. The wine world needs people who know what tastes good and can also stretch their dollars. Bravo on the review and kudos to your “feet-on-the-ground” tasters.
The common person can do it! No need to be intimidated. Just taste it and if you like it it’s good. But how do you know that when you are buying it it has a chance?
Move over Robert Parker here comes the Vintage Wine Tasters! I’m surprised the Quivira ranked third as it’s from Dry Creek. A place known for Zin. Thanks for the recommendations and keep up the good work. Looking forward to more from the VWT crew.
A group of tasters who value wine for what it is, a beverage which is part of the good life. Everyone is looking for wine value today and groups such as this provide a service to many people with a love of wine. Great job…
It just warms my heart to see my father drinking my inheritance away…