Dinner party in the "country" for some "city" folk - we took a spin to the "local" wine merchants - putting about 30 or 40 miles on the car - so suburban -
Ended with two first rate Zins - adding a third that was already in the house -
First stop - Wineology - right on 22 - Pawling, NY - supermarket type store - in the old Agway - good selection - but the store needs waaaay more before its "stocked" - knowledgeable assist on the floor - not too much unique - prices a bit high - decided to try elsewhere -
Next stop - Patterson Wine - right off 22 - Patterson, NY - heard the store was sold - indeed - locked tight on Saturday afternoon - peering in the windows - stock - which had been piled high - making in-store navigation a challenging adventure - was no more - had expected - "Open Under New Management" - instead - appears to be - liquidating - sadness -
Final try - headed to Somers Wine & Liquor - small - strip mall store - narrow - lots of Italian - short choices of American Cab and Zin - weak on Pinot - focused on the Zins -
Spotted an old favorite - Cline Ancient Vine - 2005 - $14.xx
They had Ridge - Geyersville - Ponzi - York Creek - buying for unknown tastes of dinner guests - settled on the Ponzi 2005 - $29.xx
At home - Coppola - Directors Cut - Zin - 2005 - 24.xx
Cracked the Ponzi - as soon as we got back to the house - wonderful - lots of fruit - medium spice - very solid - rich Zin - very smooth - a win
Opened the Cline - set them out on the dinner table - in what became an hour before supper - from the first test sip of each bottle - this was the right choice - its a classic Zin - strong spice - depth - much more astringent than the Ridge - perfect for the brisket - mac&cheese - cold veggies -
The auxiliary table - a miscount on the number of people at the sit-down- opened Directors Cut Zin - providing a chance for an A-B-C tasting - Coppola's was better by itself - when compared to the other two - showed - less fruit - without screaming Zin - middle of the road - did not hold up to others -
Final comments - Cline remains the hard core purist Zin - Ponzi with its 97% Zin - 3% Petite Syrah - wins the title of anytime enjoyment -
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