Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/237970
#### (91) Joel Gott Zinfandel 2011 (California). An amazing food wine because of its balance and prettiness; bright fruit and a rich lingering finish complement any red meats or tomato sauces; an elegant finish. ($18) #### (90) St. Amant Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2012 (California). This rich Old-Vine Zinfandel shows impressively opulent blackberry and spice upfront; this is a stylish and focused zin; a solid finish that deposits subtle black pepper notes. ($20) #### (90) Sextant Wheelhouse Paso Robles Zinfandel 2010 (California). A full-bodied Zinfandel with brooding undertones of dark plums, cedar, and spice; firm tannins and a crisp finish add good balance; this is a zinfandel with admirable finesse. ($22) #### (90) Forever Lodi Zinfandel 2011 (California). An old vine zinfandel that has plenty of savory blueberry, plum, and blackberry fruit; fresh and smooth, the silky finish boasts additional spice, chocolate, and black pepper flavors. ($10) #### (90) Courtney Benham Sonoma Zinfandel 2012 (California). Blackberry and vanilla emerge from this concentrated and full-bodied zinfandel; luxurious dark fruit intermixes with flavors of black pepper, nutmeg, and cedar; an attractive and well-balanced wine. ($18) #### (90) Brutocao Mendocino County Primitivo 2008 (California). Earth and tar notes are followed by aromas of fresh herbs and dried red fruits; medium-full and round, it shows off a bevy of bright red fruits on the palate, and almost none of the peppery spice often found in this variety, but that certainly doesn't detract from anything. ($20) #### (90) C.G. Di Arie Sierra Foothills Breakaway Zinfandel 2009 (California). From the inventor of Captain Crunch (seriously), this is a balanced zin with soft tannins; it delivers blackberries, spice, vanilla and a hint of orange peel; break away from overly extracted, high alcohol with this. ($15) #### (90) Hook & Ladder Russian River Valley Zinfandel 2009 (California). After Cecil and Christine De Loach built and sold De Loach, they established a small family winery - Hook & Ladder; this cool climate zinfandel is a delicious brambly, fruity expression laced with cedar; drink it now with anything grilled or let it age a few years. ($20) #### (90) Folie a Deux Zinfandel 2010 (California). Big and strapping; some black pepper spice tones, but has blackberry and plum undertones as well. ($18) #### (90) St. Francis Zinfandel 2009 (California). Classic old vine style, cherries and spice with toasted oak gives this full-bodied wine a long finish; velvety smooth tannins. ($21) #### (90) Avenel Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2012 (California). A jammy Zinfandel with unapologetically rich flavors of blackberry, cedar, and spice; full-bodied and generous with a smooth, bold finish. ($16) NATIONAL RETAILER WINE PANEL ABC Fine Wines & Spirits Orlando, FL Brad Lewis, Director of Wine Sales Bottle Bargains Northport, NY Ryan Armstrong Store Manager Andina Restaurant/ Pearl Wine Shop Portland, OR Ken Collura Director/Sommelier Bottle King Liquors Livingston, NJ Steve Carpentier General Manager Atlantic Liquors Rehoboth Beach, DE John Driscoll Wine Manager Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits Annapolis, MD Phil Altherr, GM Katie Harper, Wine Sales Berbiglia Wine & Spirits Kansas City, MO Ralph J. Bondon Vice President/Owner Beverages & more! Concord, CA Wilfred Wong E-Commerce Cellar Master The Boerne Wine Co. Boerne, TX Tom Geoghegan "Wine Guy" Crestwood Liquors Coventry, RI Matthew A. Reay VP Marketing/ Merchandising Hyatt Regency Bethesda, MD Josh Haugh Food & Beverage Director Flute New York, NY Herve Rousseau Owner K&L Wine Merchants Redwood City, CA Bryan Brick Sales Consultant Bowery & Vine Wine & Spirits New York, NY Bill Beard, Manager Frugal MacDoogal's Nashville, TN Jack Mantle, Wine Dept. Liquor Barn Louisville, KY Michael Sorg Wine Manager Brown Derby Stores Springfield, MO John Riley Retail Fine Wine Buyer Happy Harry's Bottle Shop Grand Forks, ND Dustin Mitzel General Manager Bullfrog Wine and Spirits Fort Collins, CO Chuck Carlson GM, Certified Sommelier Haskell's Minnetonka, MN Ted Farrell President Cordially Yours Wine and Spirits Depew, NY Jeannine Babcock Director Wine & Spirits Cotuit Liquors Marston Mills, MA Dan O'Brien, President Holiday Wine Cellar Escondido, CA Jim Kern Manager, Wine Buyer Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits Silvis, IL Kevin Miller Wine & Spirits Manager Liquorama Wine Cellars Hyde Park, NY Maggie Gephard Vice President/General Manager Mainstreet Wines & Spirits Countryside, IL Nancy J. Sabatini Dir. Of Wine Education & Sales Malloy's Finest Wine & Spirits Naperville, IL Bruce Jaroski Wine Director Mills Fine Wine & Spirits Annapolis, MD Peter Finkelstein Wine Consultant Tavistock Restaurants San Francisco, CA Carolin Meier Director of Wine North Ridge Wine Ellicott City, MD Brad Boarman Owner Trig's Cellar 70 Minocqua, WI Dennis J. Kohl Beverage Consultant Prime Wines & Spirits Kenmore, NY Rick McLeod Wine Manager Total Wine & More Claymont, DE Christina Pearce Senior Buyer Premium Wine & Spirits Williamsville, NY Dave Cleveland General Manager Vino 100 Michael A. Schaefer, CWE Dir., Business Development Prestige Wine & Spirits Orchard Park, NY Jeff Vignaux General Manager Spec's Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods Houston, TX Hermen Key VP, Retail Development Spencer's for Steaks and Chops Salt Lake City, UT Louis Coppel Wine Host Willowbrook Spirit Shoppe Cromwell, CT Christopher Cambareri Owner The Wine Seller Ridgewood, NJ Don Carter Owner/Sommelier Yankee Wine Newtown, CT Steve Small General Manager Beverage Dynamics • www.beveragedynamics.com • January/February 2014 • 43