The Best Zinfandels from a Bad Year

The 2005 zinfandel vintage in California may have been the worst in years but there are still some wines worth discovering

by Robert Parker

2005 may be the worst vintage for Northern California's zinfandels in more than a decade. However, even in the worst vintages, some fine wines are produced by the most serious estates that work their vineyards and are patient at harvest time. The following wines are the stars from this disappointing year.

88 points
Carlisle 2005 Zinfandel (Dry Creek)

Displaying a deep ruby/purple color and a nice raspberry/kirsch/peppery nose, with some steely earthiness in the excellent texture, this wine is an undeniable success in this challenging vintage. $33

89 points
Di Arie Vineyard 2005 Zinfandel (Amador)

A blend of 10.4% petite sirah, 10% mixed blacks, and 79.6% zinfandel, this excellent wine is offered at a bargain price. Ripe berry fruit intermixed with loamy soil, pepper, and garrigue scents are followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with no hard edges, good purity, and an attractive finish. Consume it over the next 2-3 years. $18

89 points
Di Arie Vineyard 2005 Zinfandel Southern Exposure (Shenandoah)

The dense, elegant 2005 Zinfandel Southern Exposure is a blend of 89.8% zinfandel and the rest petite sirah. Its deep ruby color is accompanied by a finesse-styled nose of cherry and raspberry fruit interwoven with notions of incense, roasted herbs, new saddle leather, and licorice. Medium-bodied with excellent to outstanding concentration, and a dry, reasonably good finish, it will drink well for 3-4 years. $35

89 points
Edmeades 2005 Zinfandel Chase Vineyard (Redwood Valley)

The 2005 Zinfandel Chase Vineyard has an intense black cherry and raspberry nose, a dark ruby/purple-tinged color, surprisingly full body and depth, and is quite a complete wine, even in such a difficult vintage. $29

89 points
Edmeades 2005 Zinfandel Ciapusci Vineyard (Mendocino Ridge)

The dark ruby-colored 2005 Zinfandel Ciapusci Vineyard has nice briary, mountain berry fruit with some pepper and herbs. It is elegant, medium-bodied, and best drunk over the next two years. $29

89 points
Robert Biale Vineyards 2005 Zinfandel Grande Vineyard (Napa)

Elegant, with blueberries, raspberries, and almost pinot noir-like characteristics is the 2005 Zinfandel Grande Vineyard. An atypically finesse-styled zin, it exhibits good acidity and medium body. It should be drunk over the next 2-3 years. $40

89 points
Robert Biale Vineyards 2005 Zinfandel Napa Ranches (Napa)

The 2005 Zinfandel Napa Ranches possesses a dense ruby/purple color in addition to loads of blue and red fruits, earth, pepper, and spice. This medium-bodied, fruit-forward effort is best drunk over the next 2-3 years. $35

90 points
Robert Biale Vineyards 2005 Zinfandel Monte Rosso (Sonoma)

One of the few outstanding zinfandels of the vintage is Biale's 2005 Zinfandel Monte Rosso, which demonstrates the terrific terroir of this superb site in Sonoma. Deep ruby to the rim with pure notes of black raspberries, cherries, garrigue, and pepper, it is a complex, medium-bodied, rich, spicy, flavorful zin to enjoy over the next 2-3 years. $50

90 points
Robert Biale Vineyards 2005 Zinfandel Zappa (Napa)

A blend of 76% zinfandel and the rest equal parts syrah and petite sirah, the 2005 Zinfandel Zappa reveals a dense ruby/purple color along with a sweet bouquet of black currants, licorice, incense, and blueberry jam. It is a medium- to full-bodied, surprisingly powerful 2005 that should drink nicely for 3-4 years. $45