2001 Dessilani Spanna Colline Novaresi Riserva (Piedmont)
Pretty shy at first but after an hour the nebbiolo starts to peak through. Decent enough for an inexpensive Piedmont wine with a recognizable profile and moderate acidity but not worth the $17 for me.
2003 Ravenswood Barricia Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Benchlands
Rich, ripe and unctious with some nail polish aromas mixed in with the ripe ripe fruit. Heavy on the palate but pretty darmed tasty ending with a spicy, chocolate finish.
2001 Renwood® Zinfandel Grandmère® (Amador County)
14.5% abv. Not terrible but it’s a bit disjointed at this stage of its life. Good perfumed zin and raspberry fruit, some toasty oak, lots of spice, a slightly sweet vanilla-chocolate finish and fairly smooth tannins but the makeup is fairly angular. The acidity leaps out a bit too much, the mouthfeel is slightly hot, and it just seems out of balance.