Yeah, it's sort of a troll. I get the feeling Zin sales aren't what they used to be. I know I don't buy Zin any more and wondered who does and why? Oh, and don't give me that "it's great for BBQ" stuff. So are many other wines.

Myself: nothing against it! I like the flavors, but it's usually higher in alc, which just isn't my bag any more. That, and there seem to be a lot more options out there.

I still buy Nalle, but that's about it (maybe the odd bottle of Swan on the rare occasions when it shows up at retail). I even gave up Geyserville and Lytton Springs after the '01s.

And the Nalle purchases are a couple of bottles here and there, rather than the larger quantities of the past. I do crave the flavors from time to time and Nalle delivers them without the high alcohol.

Cheers,

Dave

Can't handle the Nalle because of the Brett-which he puts in to add complexity he tells me.

I confess to being a Ridge runner. As a Z list member, I get 2 cases a year. It's the only Zin I currently buy. I may have to look up some Novy after TomHill's note, however.
And I DO drink it with BBQ. I know other wines can pair with BBQ, but I think Zin is best pairing for BBQ. Occasionally, I'll have it with steak or beef roast. Zin is a pretty individualistic varietal; it has a flavor that I sometimes crave.

At this point I'd only consider Carlisle or Cedarville. Based on the fact that my cellar is full I've cut waaaay back on both. I'm trying to drink up all the Carlisles through 2005 as I like them younger 1-3 years. Cedarville is a superb QPR made in the spicey, peppery style I like.
I don't even think about Turley and I can get as much as I want from a friend.
BD

Carlisle is the only list I still buy from and refused to give up despite child #2, and I stay on strictly for the Zins (well, I buy some Syrah too). Zin was my first favorite "serious" red so I will probably never give up on it. But I am getting tired of the high alcohol.

The only zins I've bought consistently these past few years are Ridge. Actually, I don't think I've bought other zins since I moved back stateside!

Unfortunately, I did cancel my ATP membership last month (waah), although I hope to restart it once the economy picks up again.

I wouldn't say I buy more or less that previously, but Zin has always been a player in my rotation. I prefer to seek out those that are lighter-styled and more elegant, but I'm not above a big and slutty indulgence now and then. Recent purchases have included many from Ridge, Dashe L'Enfant, Rafanelli, and a few from Bella.

With BBQ, for sure, but also with other hearty fare that has a sweeter component (from carmelized onions, a glaze, or whatever). Less geeky wine friends seem to love it cocktail style, as well...

Best,

Now, Boyce...you gotta be from KC to know real Q!!! :-)
Tom

I'm quite proud of my cross-cultural upbringing in (among other places) Texas, Georgia and Kansas City. I feel I have a unique appreciation of all of the various styles of BBQ the South and lower Midwest have to offer.

Now if my wife's company would transfer us to Memphis, I could complete my BBQ edu-ma-cay-shun.

We recently tasted a lot of nice Zinfandels in Paso Robles. We purchased one or more bottles of Zin from the likes of Whalebone, Peachy Canyon (the single vineyard stuff is pretty good), Dunning, Four Vines, Rotta, Pipestone, Robert Hall, etc.

And you shouldn't overlook Zin's role as a component of a lot of ersatz Rhone blends. Lots of folks down there blend it quite successfully with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, etc.

Just curious, but how are you defining "Zin sales?" Something tells me the $10 Zin/Zin blend market is probably booming these days as folks look to drink less expensive wines.

KC? Would that be the same place you learned to bar-b-que foie gras??

Eric--I think you sell yourself short. It's not sort of a troll, but a full-blown troll.

But I'll play anyway. I don't buy much Zin these days with a few exceptions. I can't think of the last time I went to ZAP or had someone tell me they went to ZAP.

Does anyone have access to industry sales data showing Zinfandel sales over the past 5-10 years? Esp. by volume?

Bruce

Two ways of looking at it.

A. Anecdotally looking at what sells for me, nothing over $20 and I truly mean close to nothing. We stock more than a few, basically doorstops at this juncture.

B. Personally, close to (a) in that, really, my limit is $30 (note: the argument of what the ceiling price for any specific grape has been argued many times before, ain't gonna go there). The sole exception may be that, for reasons I can't even name, I remain on the Turley mailing list and buy six bottles in the spring, six in the fall, about 1/3 of my total allocation (don't share, don't flip, don't ask).

With the economy being what it is, being my reduced hours at work being what they are, the $30 easily becomes $20. There's barely more than a few Zins at $30 available to me (underscore available) which intrigue, nevermind $20. So, I don't buy much at all. The days of piling up on Ravenswood, Ridge, Biale, Green & Red, Howell Mountain, Neyers, Outpost, Brogan, et. al. are like way over.

Every once in awhile I'll take a gamble on something just for grits and shins. High alc is not necessarily the issue, QPR is, esp. with, as you note, evolving palates and such.

Going back to (a) Joel Gott and Seghesio still sell very well in my market, the latter mostly due to WS scores (talking Sonoma bottling).

I like Dry Creek Zin on occassion, and Dave's is my favorite style, ready to drink a month after bottling if not before, and its cheap enough at the $13 futures price.

As an aside, BOURBON STEAK at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC is holding a Biale wine dinner. For the sum of $200 you get to try 5 wines. And one of those is a white. I love Biale wines but the the price they for for here, I don't even think about it anymore.
BD

Well, it's sort of based on observation of what seems to be a diminishing shelf space, along with wine dinners don't seem to feature it any more, whereas we used to visit Zin 2-3 times/yr.

See, subtlety's my downfall.

Stats would be good to confirm my suspicions. Lemme get back to you.

The newest vintage of zinfandel in my cellar is a Ridge Geyserville 1995. But I know I've bought more recent vintages and already consumed them. Even so, it's been quite some time (maybe a couple of years). I think my last zin purchase was at a restaurant (can't remember what I ordered).

Even though zinfadnel has come down in price (a bit), it's still hard for me to pay more for a zinfandel than I can for a nice Cotes-du-Rhone that fulfills generally the same purpose with less alcohol, and more complexity.

Good troll. Honestly, I buy very little (make that almost no) Zin any more. Carlisle (and Mike's 07s are absolutely fantastic). That's all I can think of. I taste the big 3 Ridge Zins every year, been pretty disappointed with them over the past few vintages. Seghesio is a go-to wine, but their pricing has gone up quite a bit (the San Lorenzo which I used to buy now clocks in at over $40!). I have plenty of David Coffaro around to slake my thirst when necessary.

Essentially, the function of Zin in my wine drinking has pretty much been replaced by affordable Rhone wines in the $10-20 range. I can't think of any Zin that beats the complexity and drinking enjoyment of a good Cotes du Rhone or Croze Hermitage, particularly the past several vintages.