2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
GOLD MEDAL ~ San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
88 points ~ Wine Enthusiast
For over twenty years, Peter Haywood has been cultivating award winning fruit in the Mayacamas Mountains. Sprawled across rocky hillside terraces with plenty of sun exposure, the vineyards are the ideal setting for classic Zinfandel.
Winemaker Michael Lancaster worked with the fruit to create a restrained and refined expression. Our 2013 vintage displays cranberry fruit and a hint of candied violets amid finely structured tannins.
Specs
Vintage: 2013
Varietal: 100% Zinfandel
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Vineyard Designation: Los Chamizal Vineyard
Harvested: September 17, 2013
Barrels: 30% New American oak
Aging: 17 months
Bottled: April 1st, 2015
Alcohol: 15.8%
pH: 3.27
Total Acidity: 6.0 g/L
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
4x 2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
Case:
12x 2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
Tin Barn Vineyards celebrates those hidden treasures that lie off map. Our wines highlight the true character of Sonoma County. High atop the ridges of the Sonoma Coast, just off Tin Barn Road, lies a remote plot of Syrah vines. From this fog enshrouded slope, we sourced grapes for our very first wine and derived inspiration for our name.
In the years since, winemaker Michael Lancaster and his business partners have made a fitting home in our own ātin barnāāa warehouse in rural Sonoma that serves as both cellar space and tasting room. Here, weāve joined with fellow artisan winemakers to form the collective known as Eighth Street Wineries.
Come visit sometime! Remember, though, that a map will only get you so far.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Tin Barn Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $139.99 $11.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Wow! Crazy stats at 15.8% alcohol but a pH down in white wine territory?! I need to hear more and also lab rats.
I had a bottle of 1993 Ravenswood Los Chamizal Zinfandel a few weeks ago and it was phenomenal.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel - $25 = 15.14%
PEOPLE - MIKE LANCASTER IS THE REAL DEAL. IāVE BEEN FRIENDS WITH MIKE FOR 30 YEARS (I FOLLOWED HIM THROUGH UC DAVIS) AND HE IS AN AMAZING WINEMAKER. I LOVE HIS ZINFANDELS, CLEARLY ONE OF HIS SPECIALTIES. BUY THIS WINE, NO BUY A CASE ITS A STEAL. COVID IS KILLING THE INDEPENDENT PRODUCER SO PLEASE SUPPORT MIKE TODAY!!! Thank you for your consideration, Bruno Winemaker
@Bruno_Winemaker SOLD: Iāll do my part; in for a case, why because some time you have got to just do it to support!! Keep the faith weāll need you after CoVidā¦
plausible-heady-illusionist
PLSemenza thanks for supporting Mike - you wonāt regret it. The wine is terrific. Thanks for realizing that independent small winemakers make a difference.
Bruno_Winemaker
I am a professional winemaker (Vinum cellars) and Mike Lancaster is a good friend and fellow winemaker. I saw this offering on Casemates and had to wave the Tin Barn flag because the wine is good and made by a great man.
I too am picking up a case to support. I figured that this pandemic was taking a toll on you guys. Donāt worry, win or lose, this all goes away after the election.
@InFrom@KitMarlot@raheinen@ttboy23
Sometime next year when a viable vaccine is available to the public is technically after the election, so, sure letās go with after the election.
And that 88 point Wine Enthusiast review:
This generously ripe wine has a tartness of acidity and cranberry crunch dotted in black cherry that freshens its overall thickness and density. Full-bodied, the oak is nuanced, 30% of it new American oak. VB 6/1/17
It was a great moment to see an email message from Casemates alerting me of a package coming! Always happy to contribute to the community!
And I was not disappointed! The offering is from Tin Barn Winery, a 2013 Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley, vineyard-specific: Los Chamizal.
At first glance, I was a little nervous about the vintage ā 2013 for a Zinfandel?? Itās got to be a good one if it will last that long. It was a little warm due to Mr. Brown driving it around all day at 85-90 degrees, so I popped it into the Fridge to get to room temperature at least. Soā¦ after about 45 minutesā¦ā¦
Pop and sniff ā fruit: black cherry, maybe cranberry and/or blueberry; spice: definitely white pepper, a hint of clove, andā¦.heat! This wine weighs in at 15.8% ABV. Thatās up there, and fairly prominent, yet not quite overpowering. The fruit takes a back seat in the match up, but not the way-back seat of the minivan! Itās an interesting, intriguing balance, and not surprising, as fruit often backs down in older vintages, allowing the more complex oak or spice come forward.
Color was a nice maroon, with some mild bricking evident. Again, not a surprise given the vintage, but the nose didnāt portend any falloff in quality. Not a bit of translucence ā good structure and heftiness is apparent. This is not a wimpy wine! 1:
Legs/Schmegs ā I forgot to note them!
Onto the palate: I could tell that this wine demands food to bring out all of its qualities. Dinner that night was pan-seared chicken, with a tomato and red pepper reduction. I thought, āPerfect pairing! Crushed red pepper, black pepper, garlic, olive oil, whatās not to like about this match?ā
Well, it was a little too strong for the food, but not overpowering. The pepper spice refused to back down after an hour of opening, and the heat was right along with it. Not that it was not enjoyable; the wine was certainly worthy, and the food was obviously no slouch (my wife will hopefully appreciate that!), but separate consumption was the better course of action.
Next day: pizza is on the menu! What a difference an overnight rest makes! The heat-and-spice prominence remarkably had reduced, the fruit was much more prominent, and it turned out to be a nicely balanced glass of enjoyment to participate in this quintessential pairing.
Word of note: this appears to be an unfiltered, unrefined wine, as the second day there was a fine sediment evident in the glass ā so fine that it would not settle to the bottom, but remained suspended. A different mouthfeel, for sure!
For the Zinfandel aficionados: this is not the sweet, jammy, fruit-forward/fruit bomb, ten-buck-Chuck supermarket offering. A serious-drinking Zin that is enhanced with an appropriate food pairing. Iād love to explore meat and cheese pairings with this one!
Enjoy!
@Kraxberger
Thanks for the review. Weird that there was more spice the first day and more fruit the second day. I usually have the opposite experience although I do often notice the heat dissipating on day 2 (or even after some air on day 1) as you noted. Maybe the heat adds to the perception of spice similarly to how fruit forward wines can sometimes be perceived as having some sweetness even when there is practically no RS.
@chipgreen I do think the higher alcohol āplays upā the spice and would dampen fruit flavors. But I donāt have any fact-based knowledge of why āheatā would dissipate after prolonged opening - I donāt think alcohol evaporates that quickly - but Iād certainly be open to any enlightenment out there. Maybe the high acidity plays into it? I know (from experience, at least) that the acid levels soften after some aeration/overnight laydown. So maybe thatās what weāre seeing here?
I do love this forum and community - thereās a never-ending fountain of knowledge to be had with wine, and I donāt profess to know it all by any means!
I am going to have to pass on this one if for no other reason than it is probably a ādrink nowā wine and I am still drinking 2009s over here trying to catch up!
@chipgreen@Kraxberger Yes, enough ethanol can preferentially evaporate over the first little while that a wine is open that it can make a noticeable difference in the perception of the wine. The higher the starting alcohol the more likely this is to happen.
It sounds like the taste profile is right up my alley, and 7 years old is just starting to get into my preferred drinking window for well made Zinfandel (I start thinking about drinking a Ridge Zinfandel around 8-10 years). But I find that I donāt often enjoy wines with alcohol levels much north of 15%, and your report hasnāt removed that concern for this wine for me.
This same wine was a casemates offer Oct 2018. A little less expensive this time around. So maybe some notes from other than rats, if there are any rats. Also some discussion about that ph.
@kaolis Looks like your post and my Lab Rat report hit about the same time. Hope you saw it, and it is of benefit to you.
I canāt speak to the ph - I can spell it, but much more than that Iām at a loss. I got a D in chemistry!
@otisskavier Hand sanitizer would indeed be an insult to the wine - and not enough alcohol to be effective! But your hands would definitely smell better than other products!
Los Chamizal is a coveted vineyard in Sonoma Valley producing award-winning Zins from award-winning winemakers. Side note: The vineyard owner is generous enough to let locals and their doggies hike the hillside on a path that winds through the impeccably maintain vineyards that boasts an excellent view of the valley.
Very excited to get to try this. I like wines with a little age on them and a 7 year old Zin sounded intriguing.
PNP - Little bit of cherry fruit hidden behind a lot of green pepper and alcohol heat.
About 30 min later, dinner with a steak. The fruit had kinda settled in and was much more in the foreground. Nice round tannins, good mouthfeel without being overly grippy. Alcoholic heat still felt pretty prominent.
Day 2, Heat had settled down. Drinking really well at this point, fruit still there and the pepper had faded some.
Overall, I really enjoyed this wine. Good deal at $14 and a great one at under $12. I would definitely recommend a good decant before drinking, it improves quite a bit with air.
@Winedavid49 this look like it will ship after the first and accommodate the request?
Iād think since shipping is now two day the window is just rightā¦
Well, my case spent an extra 24 hours in the tender care of West Houston UPS during 98 degree weather because the driver straight up quit his route at the other end of my block and submitted a falsified āfailed delivery attemptā while I sat on my front porch watching in horror as he avoided my house. But today it made it here, very warm to the touch and jostled around enough to crack the bottom out of every foam cell and split the whole block in half. Iām not sure how no bottles were damagedā¦ Iām hoping it will still be drinkable after some rest in a cool dark place.
Any recommendations on what I should do to ensure it is salvaged and not ruined? How long should I let it recover before trying one?
@otisskavier Sorry to here about your shipping woes. From one article I saw posted here, ābottle shockā may be mostly a myth. Iād say let it rest for a day or so and come to your normal opening temperature, and give one a try.
@otisskavier Is this sealed with cork? If so, check for any corks that are pushed up, even a millimetre or so, or if thereās any wine leaking from the cork or capsule.
If this is a screwtop wine then itās basically impossible to tell if the wine itself got really hot. @Mark_L Do you mean travel shock? Bottle shock usually refers to the disjointedness of a recently bottled wine. And yes, travel shock is a very controversial concept.
@klezman This is good info. They are corked, but Iāve not investigated closely. Iāll be sure to give a closer look before opening any. Thank you, kind soul!
@klezman@otisskavier
It was once suggested here to try to give the capsule a twist. If it doesnāt, it may be to a slightly protruding cork, or a really tight shrink if itās plastic.
Longing for the days of FedEx. Cannot figure out what UPSās problem is with wine but good grief. My last two orders are baking somewhere in a truck or a warehouse since last Wednesday with an āunable to deliver to selected Access Pointā message. And access point which finally seemed to be working for about 2 or 3 shipments. What used to be so simpleā¦ sigh.
2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
Tasting Notes
GOLD MEDAL ~ San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
88 points ~ Wine Enthusiast
Specs
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$299.30 at Tin Barn Vineyards for 12x 2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Zinfandel, Los Chamizal Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, September 8th
Tin Barn Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $139.99 $11.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel
Wow! Crazy stats at 15.8% alcohol but a pH down in white wine territory?! I need to hear more and also lab rats.
I had a bottle of 1993 Ravenswood Los Chamizal Zinfandel a few weeks ago and it was phenomenal.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2013 Tin Barn Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel - $25 = 15.14%
PEOPLE - MIKE LANCASTER IS THE REAL DEAL. IāVE BEEN FRIENDS WITH MIKE FOR 30 YEARS (I FOLLOWED HIM THROUGH UC DAVIS) AND HE IS AN AMAZING WINEMAKER. I LOVE HIS ZINFANDELS, CLEARLY ONE OF HIS SPECIALTIES. BUY THIS WINE, NO BUY A CASE ITS A STEAL. COVID IS KILLING THE INDEPENDENT PRODUCER SO PLEASE SUPPORT MIKE TODAY!!! Thank you for your consideration, Bruno Winemaker
@Bruno_Winemaker man that was loud when I read it in my head!
@Bruno_Winemaker and you are?
@Bruno_Winemaker
SOLD: Iāll do my part; in for a case, why because some time you have got to just do it to support!! Keep the faith weāll need you after CoVidā¦
plausible-heady-illusionist
PLSemenza thanks for supporting Mike - you wonāt regret it. The wine is terrific. Thanks for realizing that independent small winemakers make a difference.
Bruno_Winemaker
I am a professional winemaker (Vinum cellars) and Mike Lancaster is a good friend and fellow winemaker. I saw this offering on Casemates and had to wave the Tin Barn flag because the wine is good and made by a great man.
I too am picking up a case to support. I figured that this pandemic was taking a toll on you guys. Donāt worry, win or lose, this all goes away after the election.
@raheinen Iām sorry, what does that even mean?! Are you talking about buying less wine after the election? SMH
@ttboy23 I think @raheinen means it is coronavirus that goes away after the election.
@KitMarlot @raheinen @ttboy23 Well, thatās certainly something to look forward to.
@InFrom @KitMarlot @raheinen @ttboy23
Sometime next year when a viable vaccine is available to the public is technically after the election, so, sure letās go with after the election.
@chipgreen Dont hold your breath for a vaccine.
@chipgreen @Twich22 Weāll just steal Russiaās
And that 88 point Wine Enthusiast review:
This generously ripe wine has a tartness of acidity and cranberry crunch dotted in black cherry that freshens its overall thickness and density. Full-bodied, the oak is nuanced, 30% of it new American oak. VB 6/1/17
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/tin-barn-2013-los-chamizal-vineyard-zinfandel-sonoma-valley/
(375 case production btw from winery website)
fwiw
Moreā¦TDS
It was a great moment to see an email message from Casemates alerting me of a package coming! Always happy to contribute to the community!
And I was not disappointed! The offering is from Tin Barn Winery, a 2013 Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley, vineyard-specific: Los Chamizal.
At first glance, I was a little nervous about the vintage ā 2013 for a Zinfandel?? Itās got to be a good one if it will last that long. It was a little warm due to Mr. Brown driving it around all day at 85-90 degrees, so I popped it into the Fridge to get to room temperature at least. Soā¦ after about 45 minutesā¦ā¦
Pop and sniff ā fruit: black cherry, maybe cranberry and/or blueberry; spice: definitely white pepper, a hint of clove, andā¦.heat! This wine weighs in at 15.8% ABV. Thatās up there, and fairly prominent, yet not quite overpowering. The fruit takes a back seat in the match up, but not the way-back seat of the minivan! Itās an interesting, intriguing balance, and not surprising, as fruit often backs down in older vintages, allowing the more complex oak or spice come forward.
Color was a nice maroon, with some mild bricking evident. Again, not a surprise given the vintage, but the nose didnāt portend any falloff in quality. Not a bit of translucence ā good structure and heftiness is apparent. This is not a wimpy wine!
1:
Legs/Schmegs ā I forgot to note them!
Onto the palate: I could tell that this wine demands food to bring out all of its qualities. Dinner that night was pan-seared chicken, with a tomato and red pepper reduction. I thought, āPerfect pairing! Crushed red pepper, black pepper, garlic, olive oil, whatās not to like about this match?ā
Well, it was a little too strong for the food, but not overpowering. The pepper spice refused to back down after an hour of opening, and the heat was right along with it. Not that it was not enjoyable; the wine was certainly worthy, and the food was obviously no slouch (my wife will hopefully appreciate that!), but separate consumption was the better course of action.
Next day: pizza is on the menu! What a difference an overnight rest makes! The heat-and-spice prominence remarkably had reduced, the fruit was much more prominent, and it turned out to be a nicely balanced glass of enjoyment to participate in this quintessential pairing.
Word of note: this appears to be an unfiltered, unrefined wine, as the second day there was a fine sediment evident in the glass ā so fine that it would not settle to the bottom, but remained suspended. A different mouthfeel, for sure!
For the Zinfandel aficionados: this is not the sweet, jammy, fruit-forward/fruit bomb, ten-buck-Chuck supermarket offering. A serious-drinking Zin that is enhanced with an appropriate food pairing. Iād love to explore meat and cheese pairings with this one!
Enjoy!
@Kraxberger
Thanks for the review. Weird that there was more spice the first day and more fruit the second day. I usually have the opposite experience although I do often notice the heat dissipating on day 2 (or even after some air on day 1) as you noted. Maybe the heat adds to the perception of spice similarly to how fruit forward wines can sometimes be perceived as having some sweetness even when there is practically no RS.
@chipgreen I do think the higher alcohol āplays upā the spice and would dampen fruit flavors. But I donāt have any fact-based knowledge of why āheatā would dissipate after prolonged opening - I donāt think alcohol evaporates that quickly - but Iād certainly be open to any enlightenment out there. Maybe the high acidity plays into it? I know (from experience, at least) that the acid levels soften after some aeration/overnight laydown. So maybe thatās what weāre seeing here?
I do love this forum and community - thereās a never-ending fountain of knowledge to be had with wine, and I donāt profess to know it all by any means!
@Kraxberger Thanks for the great detailed report. Pizza & Zin - YES!!!
@chipgreen Do we need more wine?
@mrn1
No. No, we do not!
I am going to have to pass on this one if for no other reason than it is probably a ādrink nowā wine and I am still drinking 2009s over here trying to catch up!
@chipgreen @Kraxberger Yes, enough ethanol can preferentially evaporate over the first little while that a wine is open that it can make a noticeable difference in the perception of the wine. The higher the starting alcohol the more likely this is to happen.
It sounds like the taste profile is right up my alley, and 7 years old is just starting to get into my preferred drinking window for well made Zinfandel (I start thinking about drinking a Ridge Zinfandel around 8-10 years). But I find that I donāt often enjoy wines with alcohol levels much north of 15%, and your report hasnāt removed that concern for this wine for me.
This same wine was a casemates offer Oct 2018. A little less expensive this time around. So maybe some notes from other than rats, if there are any rats. Also some discussion about that ph.
https://casemates.com/forum/topics/tin-barn-vineyards-sonoma-valley-zinfandel
@kaolis I thought this looked familiar. Forgot I grabbed some back then. Iāll have to see if I can find a bottleā¦
@kaolis Looks like your post and my Lab Rat report hit about the same time. Hope you saw it, and it is of benefit to you.
I canāt speak to the ph - I can spell it, but much more than that Iām at a loss. I got a D in chemistry!
@rjquillin So much wine, so little time!
@Kraxberger Yessir thanks, nice review. Typing and posting at the same time
A nearly 16% rocket fuel Zinā¦? Why not, Iām in! If it tastes bad, should double nicely as hand sanitizer.
@otisskavier Hand sanitizer would indeed be an insult to the wine - and not enough alcohol to be effective! But your hands would definitely smell better than other products!
Los Chamizal is a coveted vineyard in Sonoma Valley producing award-winning Zins from award-winning winemakers. Side note: The vineyard owner is generous enough to let locals and their doggies hike the hillside on a path that winds through the impeccably maintain vineyards that boasts an excellent view of the valley.
@WCCWineGirl I, too, like adjectives; I really get turned on by citations.
Ball is in your courtā¦
Very excited to get to try this. I like wines with a little age on them and a 7 year old Zin sounded intriguing.
PNP - Little bit of cherry fruit hidden behind a lot of green pepper and alcohol heat.
About 30 min later, dinner with a steak. The fruit had kinda settled in and was much more in the foreground. Nice round tannins, good mouthfeel without being overly grippy. Alcoholic heat still felt pretty prominent.
Day 2, Heat had settled down. Drinking really well at this point, fruit still there and the pepper had faded some.
Overall, I really enjoyed this wine. Good deal at $14 and a great one at under $12. I would definitely recommend a good decant before drinking, it improves quite a bit with air.
@jermfish thank you for the report. appreciate the 2nd day thoughts too.
Would love to buy, but can only do so if I can delay shipping until the first of September. What say you Casemate lords?
@SmilingBoognish
@Winedavid49 this look like it will ship after the first and accommodate the request?
Iād think since shipping is now two day the window is just rightā¦
Any interest in a split in MA?
@rmf917 How close to Litchfield CT are you?
Ok, Iāll biteā¦in for a case. Not a big American Oak fan, but love me some Los Chamizal juice
.
cliched-foulest-note
Well, my case spent an extra 24 hours in the tender care of West Houston UPS during 98 degree weather because the driver straight up quit his route at the other end of my block and submitted a falsified āfailed delivery attemptā while I sat on my front porch watching in horror as he avoided my house. But today it made it here, very warm to the touch and jostled around enough to crack the bottom out of every foam cell and split the whole block in half. Iām not sure how no bottles were damagedā¦ Iām hoping it will still be drinkable after some rest in a cool dark place.
Any recommendations on what I should do to ensure it is salvaged and not ruined? How long should I let it recover before trying one?
@otisskavier Sorry to here about your shipping woes. From one article I saw posted here, ābottle shockā may be mostly a myth. Iād say let it rest for a day or so and come to your normal opening temperature, and give one a try.
@otisskavier Is this sealed with cork? If so, check for any corks that are pushed up, even a millimetre or so, or if thereās any wine leaking from the cork or capsule.
If this is a screwtop wine then itās basically impossible to tell if the wine itself got really hot.
@Mark_L Do you mean travel shock? Bottle shock usually refers to the disjointedness of a recently bottled wine. And yes, travel shock is a very controversial concept.
@klezman You are correct ā I meant travel shock.
@klezman This is good info. They are corked, but Iāve not investigated closely. Iāll be sure to give a closer look before opening any. Thank you, kind soul!
@klezman @otisskavier
It was once suggested here to try to give the capsule a twist. If it doesnāt, it may be to a slightly protruding cork, or a really tight shrink if itās plastic.
Longing for the days of FedEx. Cannot figure out what UPSās problem is with wine but good grief. My last two orders are baking somewhere in a truck or a warehouse since last Wednesday with an āunable to deliver to selected Access Pointā message. And access point which finally seemed to be working for about 2 or 3 shipments. What used to be so simpleā¦ sigh.
@scott0210
Ugh.