Saturday Night – Mick is pulling out all the stops – Part 3

The main course for the evening was pulled pork sliders with homemade BBQ sauce, homemade coleslaw and smoked macaroni and cheese. Mick paired this with a 2011 Seghesio Zinfandel.

 

The nose on the wine was huge with aromas of blackberry, nutmeg, black currant, cedar, must and smoke. Tasting the wine a sour black cherry flavour dominates the wine with some coffee and smoke in the background. The wine had a big mouth-feel and came across hot at times. I didn’t mind this wine on its own but where it really shined was as a pairing with the pulled pork sliders.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 88, Mark – 87, Kathy – 88, Amy – 89, Overall – 88.

Bonus Rating – Chris – 87, Jan – 87.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

SEGHESIO ZINFANDEL 2011

VINTAGES 942151
750 mL bottle
Price $ 29.95
Made in: California, USA
By: Seghesio Wineries
Release Date: Jul 6, 2013
Wine, Red Wine
14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Style: Full-bodied & Firm
Varietal: Zinfandel
Sugar Content: 7 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry

Tasting Note - By every report and what we have seen in early tastings, 2011 is an uneven vintage, especially as far as red wines are concerned. This extremely well-made working proves that, as always, very good wines await those willing to search, and it hits the varietal mark smartly. It is precise in its focus on ripe berries and briary spice, and it is particularly well-balanced with fine energy and a long, very firm finish. It is still on the tight side and we would argue against hasty drinking, but it is an easy-odds bet to grow and improve for another three to five years. Special Designation: Good Value. Score - 90. (Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines, Jan. 2013)

The 2007 Seghesio Zinfandel made the Top Ten Red list and is the only Zinfandel ever to do so. We have tried Seghesio every year since then up to last night’s first look at the 2011. I think for years 2008 to current I may have been a little tough in my rating as I want each year to be as amazing as the 2007 was and they haven’t been. They have been solid, well-crafted Zins, but they aren’t as magical as the 2007 was and so my ratings have probably been a touch lower than they should be. Damn you 2007 and that high bar you set!

The pulled pork sliders were very good but add some of that home BBQ and they go from good to great. The coleslaw and macaroni sides were also very good.

Click here for Part 4