[This is for you, Miles! ;-)]

With a dinner of leftover BBQ and mesquite-smoked jerk chicken:

nose: mint/eucalyptus, initally some oak, pencil lead, berry fruit,
later showing black pepper and tarry notes
palate: smooth, medium-full bodied, berryish fruit, tha mint/eucalyptus
thing, low acids, tarriness developing after an hour or so

Very nice Zin that stood up well to the wood smoke of the meats. It
wasn't terribly complex, but held its own nonetheless.

Mark Lipton

Mark Lipton wrote:
> [This is for you, Miles! ;-)]
>
> With a dinner of leftover BBQ and mesquite-smoked jerk chicken:
>
> nose: mint/eucalyptus, initally some oak, pencil lead, berry fruit,
> later showing black pepper and tarry notes
> palate: smooth, medium-full bodied, berryish fruit, tha mint/eucalyptus
> thing, low acids, tarriness developing after an hour or so
>
> Very nice Zin that stood up well to the wood smoke of the meats. It
> wasn't terribly complex, but held its own nonetheless.

Thats interesting. I don't recall ever noting any mint/eucalyptus in
the Warrior Fire. I have in Karly's Bucks Ten Point Zin. Usually the
Warrior Fire is rather spicy and very fruity. I don't think I have had
the 2000. I'll check my wine cellar but I think I've got 2001, 2002.

Do you have any comments on Amador County Zins for 2000 in general as
opposed to other years?

miles wrote:

> Thats interesting. I don't recall ever noting any mint/eucalyptus in
> the Warrior Fire.

I just calls 'em like I sees 'em, Miles ;-)

> I have in Karly's Bucks Ten Point Zin. Usually the
> Warrior Fire is rather spicy and very fruity.

I wouldn't argue with either of those descriptors. I usually prefer the
Warrior Fires to the Bucks Ten Point, although in certain years the
Bucks Ten Point is a good, lighter Zin.


> Do you have any comments on Amador County Zins for 2000 in general as
> opposed to other years?

I can't say that I do. I recall tasting the 2000s on our last visit
there, and it certainly wasn't as weak a year in Amador as it was in the
North Coast. This is where what Kermit Lynch calls the "vintage chart
mentality" really breaks down: anyone who relies on the vintage
characterization for Napa/Sonoma for Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Amador
or Anderson Valley is just plain out to lunch IMO. I'll see if Hugh
Johnson has anything to say about this.

Mark Lipton