Back in the US of A, in plenty of time for Zin-dependence day……

Safely back from Bordeaux and the wine fair Vinexpo. It continues to amaze me that after all of the travel that I have done around the world that there are new scenarios that can make one’s travel experience very challenging as well as interesting. First there was a new technique for returning the rental car at the Bordeaux airport; the car rental company that I found at Vinexpo has no stand at the airport. I was instructed to go into the airport’s temporary parking lot, take a ticket, roll down the back-passenger seat window a crack and after locking the car drop the key into the back seat with the parking ticket. This is not exactly Hertz #1 Gold.

Like a somewhat sane passenger, I arrived at the airport at 5:45 AM for my 7:10 AM flight. It was then that I found out that my Bordeaux flight was booked to Orly airport in Paris when my return to the States was leaving through De Gaulle. My friendly Air France agent assured me that with three hours between arriving at Orly and my next flight departing from De Gaulle that I had plenty of time. This advise was given I presume in order to discourage me from trying to change my flight to the 6:10 or 6:40 to Orly or better yet, the 7:30 to De Gaulle. Madame Air France could tell by looking me straight in the eye that I was up to the challenge that she was about to have me embark on. Fortunately my 7:10 was on time to Orly, I collected my bag checked to Orly after another twenty minutes, it took me five minutes to pay sixteen Euros for my bus transfer to De Gaulle, waited another five minutes for the bus, unfortunately it was full with five people ahead of me still to go in the bus line. I read on the sign that the next bus would show up in Paris’ drizzling rain after another thirty minutes.

Rain on the Rocade means traffic. The bus driver was amazing and knew all the correct lane changes to make the most efficient ride to De Gaulle. I disembarked the bus, grabbed my bag from the cargo hold and walked for around a kilometer to the departing flight area. It was now 10:20 and the boarding for my 11:30 flight was about to close for security reasons at 10:30. I was fast-tracked to the Air France priority area and they very kindly gave me a boarding pass. Unfortunately there was another Monsieur Perkins on my flight and they printed me his boarding card. I was handed the card and was told that I had to hurry and get an agent to fast-track my bag or it would not get on the plane. When the agent was tagging my bag and called me Jeffrey, I knew something was wrong. Now it was past 10:30 and Jeffrey was checked in and I still was not. The plane was said to be overbooked and my seat had been given away. Some quirk made it possible for them to check me in as a stand-by passenger. I was told that Madame Air France in Bordeaux could have printed my boarding pass and much of this aggravation would have been avoided. Perhaps this was all part of her plan that must have been called ‘Mission Nearly-Impossible?’ Comment dit-on en Francais? Then I was off to get through security.

There were only two customs officials checking passports. After enduring the half-undressing, computer and liquids-out ritual, somehow I escaped being stuck in the next customs interrogation line. I was able to enjoy another ten minute drive on a bus to the boarding terminal. After finding the customer service booth, a very nice lady wanted to explain to me the situation that my seat had been given away and that the plane was overbooked. I very politely let her know my plight starting with the advice from Madame Air France in Bordeaux and she seemed to be sympathetic. I was directed to the gate where the plane was about to close the door. The gate agent wanted to explain the situation to me that my seat had been given away, bla-bla-bla (French accent) and then I felt obliged to claim victim status. The gate agent also seemed to turn sympathetic. After a phone call in which she had to raise her voice, voila, a boarding pass appeared and I was instructed to run like the wind towards the plane. As it turns out, the rainy traffic in Paris claimed fifty more victims on the flight and this supposedly overbooked flight had many empty seats. The real loser in my escapade was the poor guy that I sat next to on the flight back who thought he was going to have extra room to stretch out and sleep. I’d like to think that my yoga training had instilled in me a calm and zen-like demeanor which helped me through this ordeal. I just kept repeating to myself: international travel is glamorous, international travel is glamorous…….

The above scene just goes to show you just how far we’ll go at the Wine Warehouse to find you the latest and greatest from the world of wine. With next Wednesday being Independence Day, we thought that it might be a good time to bring up a July 4th tradition; barbeque and Zinfandel. I personally can’t think of a more patriotic combo for your 4th. Although grown as far away as South Africa, Australia, Italy and even a discreet plot or two in France, Zinfandel gained its popularity in the US and therefore either we have adopted Zin as our own, or Zinfandel has adopted us as its home. Zinfandel is from the vine family 'vitis vinifera' which is of European origin as are most of the grapes we are familiar with such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot etc. Zinfandel roots (pardon the pun) were traced back to Italy and then back even further.

Let me hit you with some knowledge: According to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Wine: ‘Only then was it irrefutably demonstrated what had been suspected, that Zinfandel is one and the same as the Primitivo of southern Italy (which may have been imported from the United States). (The relationship had already been sufficiently acknowledged by the Italians in the 1980s that some were exporting their Primitivo labelled, in direct appeal to the American market, Zinfandel.) Subsequent DNA profiling at UC Davis established that the variety Plavic Mali of Croatia is in fact the progeny of a cross between Zinfandel and Dobričić, an obscure and ancient Croatian variety found on the island of Šolta near Split. This suggested a probable Dalmatian origin for Zinfandel, and Croatian researchers Pejic and Maletic collaborating with Carole Meredith at Davis intensively searched the coastal vineyards for Zinfandel until in 2001 they discovered an ancient and almost extinct variety on the island of Kaštela near Split called Crljenak Kaštelanski (literally ‛red grape of Kaštela‚) that strongly resembled Zinfandel. DNA profiling established that it was Zinfandel, thus supporting a primary Croatian origin for California’s Zinfandel.’

Zinfandel was widely planted in Napa and Sonoma during the gold rush era of the mid 1800’s. The reason for its popularity is that the Zinfandel vine performs well in California’s climatic conditions and it seemed at the time to resemble the Claret (Bordeaux) style of wine. The most likely reason for Zin’s popularity was that it has the ability to be a hearty cropper and produce good quantities of grapes that produce a sturdy wine. During most of the 20th century Zinfandel was California’s most planted red grape variety. The California Zin acreage began declining in the 1970's as the variety seemed to be underappreciated just as was Australia’s workhorse grape at the time, Shiraz. Times have changed as Shiraz regained its popularity likely due to Rosemount’s top 100 Wine Spectator rating for a Shiraz under $10. Ironically, Zinfandel’s savior may have been the emerging popularity of White Zinfandel in America. The White Zin craze began in the 1980’s and subsequently Zinfandel plantings began to grow again in California. Plots of old vine Zinfandel were being sought out and vinified separately into special cuvees and the variety had gained a new respect from the wine cognoscenti. Let's take a look a some of the styles of Zinfandel available to you at the Wine Warehouse. Nothing better on the 4th than hanging out by the grill with a slightly chilled glass of Zinfandel in your hand.

Calamity Zinfandel 2005. This wine is a custom crushed cuvee. Produced from old Zinfandel vines in Calistoga, the nice thing about this Zin is the elegance and grace it has while showing off its overt fruit. Many Zins in the market give you over the top and raisiny character, this wine is a cross between the flavors and color of Zinfandel with the texture and character of a nice Cabernet. Cedar, vanilla and coconut macaroon aromas dominate, accented by plum and wild berry flavors ripe, cherry, raspberry and cassis flavor with a nice touch of earthiness, very good balance with a fleshy texture and a long, full, fruity finish.

Calamity Zinfandel ‘Napa Valley’ 2005, Retail $24.99 Warehouse $14.99

Chiarello Zinfandel Giana is produced from fruit grown on 95 year old vines, this Zinfandel vineyard is also sustainably farmed. The vines are farmed for high quality but for moderate yield. After green harvesting nearly half of the crop, these old vines continued to produce wildly large clusters, and large, juicy fruit. As a result, the 2005 Giana Zinfandel has a solid range of flavors ranging from notes of plums, black cherries, raspberries, to cocoa and licorice. Was an 88 pointer in The Wine Spectator.

Chiarello Zinfandel ‘Napa Valley’ Giana 2005, Retail $34.99 Warehouse $19.99

The Neyers 2005 Zinfandel High Valley is produced at a high elevation (1,600 feet) site in the Chiles Valley. This effort exhibits the tell-tale elegance, high acids, and lower alcohol of the vintage along with abundant quantities of raspberry and black cherry fruit in its more complete, concentrated personality. Displaying elegance and power, this beauty can be drunk over the next 5-7 years. It was good to see longtime wine enthusiast, national sales rep for Kermit Lynch Importers, vineyard owner, and wine producer, Bruce Neyers, who has one of the most important palates on the West Coast. Neyers, who utilizes the services of Ehren Jordan of Turley Wine Cellars as his winemaker, has consistently turned out beautiful Chardonnays as well as fine Merlots, Zinfandels, and Syrahs. 91 points Wine Advocate

Neyers Zinfandel ‘Napa Valley’ High Valley 2005, Retail $29.99 Warehouse $23.99

Dry Creek Vineyard's Beeson Ranch Zinfandel is crafted from grapes grown on vines over 100 years old. The 5-acre Beeson Ranch vineyard is characterized by spicy mint and eucalyptus aromas which combine with rich blackberry and raspberry flavors. The fruit is rich and opulent with soft tannins on a lingering finish.

Dry Creek Zinfandel ‘Dry Creek Valley’ Beeson Ranch 2002, Retail $24.99 Warehouse $14.99

Alderbrook's Old Vine/ Old Clones Zinfandel reveals blackberry, plum, black pepper and spicy clove emerge from this Old Vine Zinfandel. These flavors also come through on the palate with round and enhanced toasty flavors. This is a crowd pleaser at a crowd pleasing price.

Alderbrook Zinfandel ‘Dry Creek Valley’ OV/OC 2001, Retail $24.99 Warehouse $9.99

Seven Deadly Zins is an interesting Zinfandel from Lodi, an area not known for particularly high quality wine. The 2004 Seven Deadly Zins (you’ve gotta love the name) exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as a big, briery, spicy, peppery nose, excellent texture, very good fruit, and a medium to full-bodied finish. 88 points Wine Advocate

Seven Deadly Zins Zinfandel Lodi 2004, Retail $18.99 Warehouse $11.95

Plenty of Zintresting wines currently in the shop. Zincerely hoping that you have a nice 4th. Happy Grilling!