Talus Collection Lodi Zinfandel 2004

Price: $8
Maker: Talus Collection, Woodbridge, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Talus Collection Lodi Zinfandel 2004 is one of those sub-$10 reds that makes writing about inexpensive wines fun. This zin greets the nose with strong berry aromas seasoned with mocha. The flavor is intense and juicy, starting with red berries and a bit of oak, then finishing with lingering spice. This may not be one of the great zins of the century, but I wouldn’t hesitate to serve it for any kind of entertaining. It’s a wine that just about everyone can enjoy.

The San Francisco Chronicle reached a similar conclusion last month:

TWO AND A HALF STARS 2004 Talus Collection Lodi Zinfandel ($8) What an affordable crowd-pleaser. With 13.5 percent alcohol, it’s still big, plush and simple but luscious, with rich blackberry cobbler a la mode and coffee aromas and flavors and a bit of spicy oak..

The winemaker’s own tasting notes are a bit more dramatic: “The 2004 Talus Collection Lodi Zinfandel is a full-bodied wine with bright, intense aromas of brambles, spice, and cherry. Flavors of dried cherries and cranberries are enhanced by hints of toasty oak. This wine is soft and supple, with a velvety body and smooth finish. It is the perfect match for grilled meat, barbecued ribs, and spicy sausage pizza.”

Whatever the details, this wine is a great value and, as the Chronicle notes, a real crowd pleaser. In addition, it seems to be in fairly wide distribution, so you stand a good chance of finding it at your local shop.