7 Deadly Zins

How can we do a series on Zinfandel without tasting 7 Deadly Zins?  Simply put, we can’t.

It’s a bad pun that inspired the naming of this wine.  But hey… it’s fun and it’s a name you will remember.  But it’s not just another bottle with a quirky name trying to entice shoppers with silly marketing, there’s a reason behind the seven in the name.  The grapes that go into this wine come from seven different growers in the Lodi region.  I don’t know if they picked the name and then decided to source from seven growers or vice versa, but I do know one thing… this wine is good!

You may have heard people refer to a style of Zinfandel as “Lodi Zinfandel” and this is a great example of such a style.  It’s a Zinfandel that was made to go with barbecue.  Big, bold and fruity with lots of spice.  This is what many people love about California Zins (and what some people hate).

I Confess, I Like this Wine

OK, so now I’m getting in on the bad jokes.  But it’s no joke that this is a good zin.  It has a spicy nose with a bit of raspberry, tomato, pepper and cola.  It’s very clearly a Lodi Zinfandel right from the first whiff.  Raisins, jammy blackberry, walnut and black pepper make for a big, bold palate with plenty of complexity.  It has good concentration too, and a fairly long finish with a hot spiciness.

It’s not bad for the $15 price.  I gave it an 87.

Wine: 7 Deadly Zins
Varietal: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 15%
Rating: 87
Price Paid: $14.99

UPDATE: Read our review of the 7 Deadly Zins 2007 vintage