$25. 15.3% alc. Medium to full bodied. Did not decant but I did let sit for 45 minutes (I am moving Friday and my decanter is packed). Very ripe black cherry, plum and blackberry. Moderate amounts of spice. Pleasantly light oak--not overbearing. This is a very rich and well balanced zin. High alcohol is cleverly disguised by tons of fruit and long finish. 90 points. Drink now or wait up to 5 years--but I doubt it will get any better.

I would recommend decanting; this is beginning to drop some sediment.

[ 05-29-2002, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: mletson ]

mletson: We LOVE Seghesio. Is this their new release? They also make a fabulous Sangiovese.

Brent Null:

This was released last year. The 1999 vintage was very good in California, and Seghesio was one of the best.

BTW: Laube is 'way off-base in the way he is excoriating the 2000 vintage in California for Zinfandel. Yes, not as good as 1999, but there are many excellent bottlings... His 90 for the Rosenblum 2000 Harris-Kratka is three points too low... Looks like he wants to stop at 90 for the vintage...

Add he is totally out to lunch on his ratings for 1999 Kistler Chardonnays.... My lowest rating was 92....

I am glad to hear that highdesertwine; I hope you are right.

Brent, the 2000 regular Sonoma Bottling from Seghesio is out now and I believe Laube gave it 87 points. The '99 version was one of the best QPRs of the vintage. Definitely worth trying.

The Old Vines is good year-in and year-out. The '98 was also a fabulous bottle, which is worth noting given the challenging nature of the vintage.

I had this one Thursday night and am just now getting around to posting my notes. Removed bottle from cellar and opened for 30 minutes prior to dinner even though it was not decanted, mostly to warm the wine a bit. Served in "freebie" Folie a Deux Zinfandel style of glasses. Dark, crimson color in the glass. Smell was difficult to pin down. Perhaps the smell of berries, leather and oak. Flavors of black berries and cherries. I scored this wine much lower than WS and others on the forum. I pegged it at 85 points. Drink now. Note: I had sediment in the bottle as others noted.

MLetson,

PREFACE: Sorry for going off topic. Now, back to the question ...

You're MOVING?!? You don't mean from that nice house that you completely renovated, do you?