Lodi Revisited

My bottle of Fields Family Old Vine Zin 2010 was corked, so I’ll have to go with the comments of other tasters. The Fields reportedly showed more brightness and natural acidity than the D’Art, giving it a juicy, mouth-watering style. There was a question raised here about the legal definition of the term “old vine Zin.” I loved winemaker Stuart Spencer’s comment: his dad always said that Old Vines were anything older than him…

We finished with another grape that we don’t associate with Lodi but certainly thrives there. The Rhone varietal Syrah likes warmer climates, as we tasted in Klinker Brick Farrah Syrah 2010. I certainly tasted the warm-climate richness, but also the bacon-y character that comes through in some Syrah. This one has plenty of savory notes — tobacco, herbs, smoked ham — to complement the dark berries, with a rich and supple mouthfeel. I’d say you need too throw some lamb on the grill to bring out the best in this wine…

My final suggestion is that wine lovers need to look further than the $10-ish, mass-market Lodi Zin to really taste what this appellation has to offer. I know you won’t be disappointed. Cheers!

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