Wine Pick of the Week: January 14, 2016

Brazin 2012 Old Vine Zinfandel (California)

For January I’m reviewing some “comfort wines” to go with the comfort foods featured on the “Soul” page. Because most people are budget conscious at the beginning of the year, these wines will be in the $10-$12 range—comfortable for the wallet. Also, at the end of the review, get healthy with tidbits on red wine from an article a friend sent to me, “Red Wine and Your Gut?” by Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialis

I love Lodi Zin. If there was ever a “comfort wine,” this is it. The climate in this region heats up the grapes during the day and all but freezes them at night, concentrating the fruit and intensifying the flavors.

Brazin 2012 Old Vine Zinfandel doesn’t disappoint, made from vines 40-100 years old farmed sustainably. The color is dark purple, inky.

On the nose, it’s dark cherry to plum jam and a bit of mocha. The first taste (prepare yourself) is a blast of spice, then cherries, black pepper and that blackberry/plum jam from the nose. It’s warm going down (14.5% alcohol) with cherry flavors settling along the sides of the tongue.

It has a sweetness and light tannins, a smooth finish. This OVZ is powerful but not overpowering. I like it as a sipper, and it’s a bit heady.

Paired with food, it’s better with the moist-style meatloaf rather than the dry. Burgers, steaks, red meat stews—hearty winter fare. Dark chocolate (preferable to milk chocolate) and sea salt cut the spice and brought out more fruit. 

HEALTH NOTE: A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that drinking 1-2 glasses of red wine (not sweet reds) can enhance the conditions for beneficial gut flora (important for metabolism, digestion, immunity, and many other body systems,) and it decreases the bad pathogenic bacteria. (click here for whole article)