Learnings from the past few wines

Okay, I don't know if this is really a learning, but it's interesting.

Over the past week or so I've pulled these from the cellar:

1995 Gundlach-Bunchschu Sonoma Vly Estate Zinfandel
1999 Clos Pegase Napa Vly Reserve Cabernet
2001 Robert Young Alexander Vly Scion (Bordeaux-style blend)
2001 Kenwood Jack London, Sonoma Vly Zinfandel

You may have heard how Cabernets age so well, but wines like Zinfandel don't.    Of this small sampling the two Cabs were past their prime giving me largely a mouthful of dryness.   The two Zins were damn fine wines still displaying fruit and complexity. Both Cabs were high-end wines retailing for about $75.


So what does this mean?  Beats me!

These two Zinfandels though aren't your typical fruit-juicy Zins of today.  Now many are made with low tannins and low acids and are meant to be consumed soon.  And this is probably okay since rarely does anyone age Zinfandel. (What the hell was I thinking)?

Last I looked at Gundlach-Buncschu's website their Zins seemed to be way high in alcohol as is the current trend.  Kenwood seems to be holding the line and the Jack London ones are not something you necessary want to drink on release.  That's the trade-off.