Mazzocco

As club members to Mazzocco and the Wilson family of wineries (which also includes Wilson, Matrix, DeLorimier, and Soda Rock), we have found value in their wines over the years. They are consistently successful in winning awards for their zinfandels, and for good reasons. The complaint that we consistently have, however, is management of their club and tasting room. In October, we stopped in to see if we could pick up our club case so that we could transport it back with us. In spite of the fact that they were one (1) day away from "releasing" the club shipment, they wouldn't accommodate us. In years prior, we would see the club shipment hit our credit cards without so much as an enthusiasm-generating heads-up email. The 99% of us who actually care about such things like a little warning when $400 affects our finances (especially before holiday shopping season). This year, as we concluded our transaction, little attention was given to securing our personal/financial information after we completed the transaction for the futures. In other words, the signed receipt and futures form was left out on the counter, unattended as we left the winery. Oh, and for what it's worth, they couldn't provide us March's club shipment...It had apparently shipped the day before. I can't remember a single time when we've left here and haven't felt like dumping the club. It must the be wine that keeps us from it...

2011 Zinfandel Sullivan (futures) $34/$24/$20The bouquet is undeveloped, but the palate is light-bodied with bright red fruits, such mild strawberry, red currant, and mild raspberry. This is an easy-drinking wine that I’d buy and drink…if it was already bottled. This isn’t a wine that I’d want to commit $268 (club prices) worth of cash outlay, much less the full price outlay.

2011 Zinfandel Stone (futures) $34/$24/$32Very characteristic STONE wine. Even as young as it is, the oak is subtle, revealing the bright red fruits and a splash of dark fruit for body and flavor. The acidity on the palate reminds you that it’s a zinfandel, with cassis, currant (both black and red), raspberry and a splash of blackberry. This is a crowd pleaser at any event and usually worth the wait.

2011 Zinfandel Smith Orchard Reserve (futures) $52/$37/ -Far less fruit and more herbaceous in flavor and nose. This is a wine that is usually fantastic…I don’t know how this vintage is going to fair. It’s too young, too oaky, with nothing on the nose and little more on the palate. This is another thing that annoys me about Mazzocco; they barrel taste zins from the most recent harvest. This is exactly the reason we haven't gone back to Wilson Wines since our first year of barrel tasting; they served a syrah from the recent harvest and it was still effervescent from the fermenting process!

2011 Zinfandel Seaton (futures) $34/$24/-Even better nose than the Stone , but still a little too young to judge on the palate. This could go as a big, well-loved Mazzocco zinfandel. -Lisa