92+ 2006 Brochelle Paso Robles Zinfandel 10/13/08 ($30)
15.8% alc
Color: Very deep purple garnet. (3.5) Bouquet: Concentrated sweet/tart fresh figs and Zinberry fruit with just a touch of alcohol tickling the nose. (3.0) Body: Excellent tart chalky acidity balancing very ripe fruit. Coats the mouth and handles the alcohol extremely well. Heavyweight. (3.5) Flavor: Delicious, very ripe fresh figs, plums and boysenberries. (3.5) Finish: Parallels flavor with concentrated fruit and a rich sherry component lingering for more than half a minute. Not quite as intense as the flavor in the mouth. (3.0)
Overall: This is the fourth consecutive vintage of this wine that I've tasted and it just seems to get better and better. This is ripe Paso Robles Zin at its best with wonderful fruit concentration and excellent tart, chalky acidity to keep it balanced and give it the structure to last a few years. This is hedonistically delicious and is probably at its best now and in the next 1-3 years. I want to say "fruit bomb", but it's too good for that label. (16.5)Note: I recently got to taste this with the winemaker/owners, along with their '05 Paso Robles Syrah and '05 Napa Valley Cabernet. The other two are in the same style, being fruit forward with excellent acidity. Tasting them side-by-side, it was clear to me that their Zin was by far the best of the three. The Cabernet was very tasty, but could use more tannic structure, i.e., not my style, and came in at about 90 points. The Syrah was not only "not my style", but it lacked distinction and Syrah character, coming in at about 87 points. Considering that these two are $45 to $50 a bottle, makes choosing their Zin over these two a no-brainer, based on quality.