Geez, I am just getting back to the board since my post last night. It looks like I threw a hand grenade into the room, shut the door and left. Everyone - I'm truly sorry about that.
Until a month or so ago I had no experience with zinfandels. Despite being almost exclusively a drinker of red wines. As luck would have it I was out for dinner with a colleague and he ordered a bottle of Beringer 1997 North Coast zinfandel. Wow, I was really impressed with it. Great complex taste and oh so smooth. I've had no luck finding it in the stores around here. I tried Beringers 1998 Cold lake zin and it was quite pleasant, but not nearly in the same class as the 1997 North Coast. I also tried Beringers Founders Estate versions, but they are pretty germane. And to think
it was widely available a few years ago for a measly $5.
C'est la vie.
Paul
