17% Alcohol Zinfandel Wines
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While the vast majority of table wines
have an alcohol content of 12.5 to 14%, most Red Zinfandels
have between 15 and 16% alcohol content, with some, especially
the ports and the late harvest varieties containing 17%
alcohol or more.
In short, there are many fine 17% alcohol
Zinfandel wines, many of which are made in the United
States.
What Are Zinfandel Wines and Where Do They Come
From?
Zinfandel,
also known as Zin, is a red-skinned wine grape. Almost all
Zinfandel comes from California with small amounts also made in
Washington State, Oregon, and New Zealand.
Often referred to as the "New-world
grape" or the "American grape," Zinfandel has a mouth filling,
thick berry-like consistency that is at times described as
being chewy or jammy. For the most part, Red Zinfandel
tastes of bramble and fresh or fermented red berries with an
undertone of peaches or apricots.
Similar wines are made in Italy and Croatia. In fact, the
Zinfandel grape is thought to be indigenous to Croatia. If
this is correct, then the American version of the Zinfandel grape
is an immigrant.
Vintners use Zinfandel grapes to make a wide range of wines
including full-bodied dry reds, sweet White Zinfandels,
light-bodied reds, sweet late-harvest dessert wines, and
ports. Ports are sweet wines that are fortified with neutral
grape alcohol that is added before the fermentation process is
complete.
Does White Zinfandel Come From A Different
Grape?
White
Zinfandel, a blush-colored, slightly sweet wine that is also
known as White Zin, does not come from a different
grape. More specifically, White Zinfandel is made by
fermenting the grapes without their dark purple
skins.
This sweet wine is usually inexpensive and because it seems less
formal than other varieties, it is fairly popular among people who
do not drink a lot of wine. Many wine connoisseurs think that White
Zinfandel is bland and boring and also believe that Red Zinfandel
is too high in alcohol, resulting in wines that are too "hot" and
food unfriendly.
Nevertheless, this all-American wine is usually served with
bar-b-cued dishes, grilled foods (including grilled vegetables),
red meats, pungent cheeses, and richly flavored foods such as game
dishes, roasts, and leg of lamb.
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alcoholism, the loss of control becomes common, meaning that the
person is unable to drink according to his or her intentions. For
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The Alcohol Content of Zinfandel
Wines
Zinfandel wines, especially the red varieties, typically contain
more alcohol content than most table wines. For instance,
whereas the vast majority of table wines have an alcohol content of
12.5 to 14%, most Red Zinfandels have between 15 and 16% alcohol
content, with some, especially the ports and the late harvest
varieties, containing 17% alcohol or more. In fact, as will
be seen below, some of the Zinfandel Ports have close to 19%
alcohol content. White Zinfandel, on the other hand, contains
about 3 to 8% less alcohol content than Red Zinfandel.
Since late harvest Red Zinfandels and Ports have stronger and
sweeter flavors due to their higher alcohol and residual sugar
contents, both of these wines are usually served as after-meal or
dessert wines.
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Zinfandel Flavors
The usual flavors of Zinfandel wine are the following:
- Blackberry
- Cherry
- Cedar
- Berry
- Vanilla
- Raspberry
- Tar
- Spice
- Blueberry
- Spicy
- Fruity
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who start drinking at an early age, for instance at 13 years old or
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The 17% Alcohol Zinfandel Wine
Club
The following, in order of lower to higher alcohol content, are
examples of Zinfandel wines that are close to or at a 17% alcohol
level:
- Turley Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard Contra, Costa, California,
vintage 2002. A 16.7% alcohol content.
A dark color wine with a rhubarb-blackberry fruit flavor.
- Zinfandel Block 11, Pocai Vineyards, Old Vines, vintage
2004. A 16.7% alcohol content. A dry,
dark wine that comes in root beer, mocha, cherry pie, blackberry
tea, and spice flavors.
- The 2001 Late Harvest Zinfandel from Doce Robeles Winery.
A 16.7% alcohol content. This wine, in
addition to being an excellent dessert wine is also great with
certain cooking applications such as chilli. Indeed, with its
unique flavors and sweetness, this fine wine will result in a
chilli with a unique richness and depth of flavor.
- The 2001 Edmeades, Ciapusci Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge
Zinfandel. A 16.7% alcohol content.
This Zinfandel has a strong blackberry taste and a sweetness
that tastes like raisins.
- Turley Napa Valley Moore-Earthquake Vineyard Zinfandel, vintage
1995. A 16.8% alcohol content. A late
harvest, dark color wine with very strong boysenberry-blackberry
taste.
- Turley Napa Valley Hayne Vineyard Zinfandel, vintage
1995. A 16.9% alcohol content. A
late harvest, black color wine with a very strong
blackberry-peppery-boysenberry taste.
- The 1996 Turley Zinfandel, Hayne Vineyard - Napa
Valley. A 17% alcohol content. A
purple garnet color that tastes like very spicy and fruity
berries.
- Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel California Old Vines, vintage
2003. A 16 to 17% alcohol
content. A dark wine with a fresh berry-like taste.
Approximately $40.00 per bottle.
- Turley, Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard, NAPA Valley, vintage 1996. A
17% alcohol content. A dark, woody wine
with a plum-blackcurrant-blackberry taste.
- Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel NAPA Valley Hayne Vineyard,
vintage 1997. A 17.1% alcohol content.
A dark wine with an explosive black cherry-raspberry flavor.
Approximately $75.00 per bottle.
- The 2000 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard. A
17.2% alcohol content. 500 cases were
made.
- Turley Dry Creek Valley Grist Vineyard Zinfandel, vintage
1995. A 17.3% alcohol content. A late
harvest, very dark wine with very strong blackberry-boysenberry
taste.
- Rutherford Hill Winery, NAPA Valley, Zinfandel Port,
vintage 2002. A 18.5% alcohol content.
A dark wine with a berry-like flavor with hints of spice and
honey.
- 000 Zinfandel Port Old Vine, vintage 2000. A
18.7% alcohol level. A Zinfandel Port wine
produced at four vineyards with oak barrel aging. 568 cases
were produced.
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To illustrate the mentality that many wine makers and wine
connoisseurs have about Zinfandel wines, one Zinfandel wine maker
named Ravenswood coined what is known as Ravenswood’s
motto: No wimpy wines.
Turley Vineyards 17% Alcohol Zinfandel
Wines
One final note. Many of the above listed 17% alcohol
Zinfandel wines are made by the Turley Vineyards. While the
Turley wines are known for strong, rich flavors as well as for
power and concentration, it is also interesting to point out that
these wines are usually only found on restaurant wine lists and
typically cost between $90 and $150 or more per bottle! The
following are some of the fine Turley 17% alcohol Zinfandel
wines that are available in finer restaurants:
- 1212r Turley Pesenti Vineyard, Paso Robles Zinfandel, vintage
2001. $90 per bottle.
- 1215r Turley Dogtown Vineyards Lodi Zinfandel,
vintage 2002. $100 per bottle.
- 1217r Turley Dusi Vineyards Paso Robles Zinfandel, vintage,
2002. $100 per bottle.
- 1216r Turley Uberroth Vineyards Paso Robles Zinfandel,
vintage 2002. $120 per bottle.
- 1211r Turley Hayne Vineyard, NAPA Valley Zinfandel,
vintage 2000. $135 per bottle.
17% Alcohol Zinfandel Wines:
Conclusion
Even though most table wines have an alcohol
content of 12.5 to 14%, most Red Zinfandels, however, have between
15 and 16% alcohol content. Not only this, but some of the
Red Zinfandels, especially the ports and the late harvest
varieties, contain 17% or more alcohol.
In sum, not only are many 17% alcohol Zinfandel
wines made in the United States, but some of the best 17%
alcohol Zinfandel wines in the world are produced by the
United States-based Turley Vineyards.
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