So, if you follow the wine blogs, magazines, or just plain wine speak in general you’ll know that one of California’s greatest gifts is simultaneously our bane. Yep, in a word? Zinfindels.
I mean, come on! Our weather, our terroir, naturally we would produce class-A Zins, magical, yummy, jammy, get-this-party-started-pieces-of-heaven-in-a-bottle. Or so I hear that’s the technical term. Our Zinfindels helped put California on the map wine-wise back in the day. That said, they are a double-edged sword. In recent years we have seen a great of flack, much of it deserved, for serving up gratuitous fruit-bombs.
A good Zin is jammy. It explodes on the palette, refusing to be ignored. It demands attention and rightly so because it is so, so, so delish. On the other hand a fruit bomb, which has become a sad pattern in recent years with young wineries jumping on the big Zin band wagon, is a wine so jammy you almost need a fork. It’s syrupy, no nuances, sicky sweet. God forbid you wait a year or two to drink it. The fruit bombs do NOT age well.
Okay, so that’s what you DON’T want. easy enough. You get the picture. OZV is like that, only completely opposite in the most delightful Alice in Wonderland kind of way. It’s big. It commands attention with its berry loveliness and its faint trace of spice. It’s full with a smooth finish. It warrants sharing with friends… but only the cool ones, not those wimpy ones who show up at a party with cheap Chardonnay.
No bueno.
Now mind you, OZV is a blend, mostly Zin, but with a mix of Petite Syrah as well. And a well done blend indeed. Also, they’ve avoided the fruit bomb curse of high-alcohol California wines (15%, even 16% alcohol). It’s 13% and can be purchased at Cost Plus for about ten dollars per bottle. Sigh. Contentment. Lack of stress. Yea.
My husband and I had a barbecue last weekend. We entertained about forty people in our backyard. Super fun, great guests, the best, most interesting and adorable friends- the kind of people who remind you how great life truly is, even with death and taxes. One of them brought OZV- bless her. Bless Trader Joe’s where YOU can purchase said wine at an affordable price. That’s the best kind of price. Enjoy!
This post was written by Erika Gardner. If you enjoyed it, please sign up to receive updates on this blog. Or you can follow Erika on Twitter @Erika_Gardner or “Like” her Facebook page Erika Gardner- Writer and Storyteller. Check out her contributions to the BBB Blog.
