Somewhere in that balance between cool and hot climate zinfandel, this wine has both a fresh and vibrant aspect, as well as some richness, ripeness, and depth of flavor. Red and dark berry fruit combines with soft tannin, with a touch of herbal tea and spice.
Vineyard Notes
Duncan-Shine vineyard is the source of this Zinfandel. Containing some of the oldest plantings of Zinfandel in all of Lake County, Duncan-Shine vineyard produces a Zinfandel that shows both the fresh juicy fruit and more ripe character of the variety. Spice, tobacco, and cocoa are also characteristics of the vineyard.
Food Pairings
This Zinfandel pairs nicely with grilled meats, or rich tomato based sauces, such as Bolognese. Very tasty with a Margherita pizza.
Specs
Vintage: 2016
Appellation: Lake County, CA
Alcohol: 15.2%
pH: 3.71
TA: 0.59g/100mL
RS: 0.02g/L
Barrel Aging: 12 months in French, American and Hungarian (15% new)
It’s all about minimalism. At Steele we use standard, non-GMO yeasts, natural fermentations, and no extra additives or enzymes. During fermentation we gently pumpover, use inert gas to move the finished wines, and use gravity flow as much as possible. All of this ensures that we don’t bruise the wine during its time in the cellar, which helps retain fresh aromas and flavors in the finished wines. From handpicking grapes to gentle processing and bottling in our own facility, we make sure our grapes are cared for from vineyard to bottle. It’s all about a light hand in the winemaking to better highlight the aromas and flavors of the quality fruit we crush.
The grapes we source for the Steele label also supply the Shooting Star label. The Shooting Star wines are more reminiscent of specific appellations and uncommon varietals. They are fermented in stainless steel or aged in oak for a shorter period of time and should be enjoyed while young. The Steele label wines are single vineyard designates or specific vineyard blends that age in oak for a longer period of time and are meant to drink soon, but will age up to eight to ten years with proper cellaring.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Writer’s Block Zinfandel - $35 = 21.20%
89 Points. Generous, smooth and full bodied, this wine offers ripe black-plum and blackberry aromas, mouthfilling flavors and an appealing, lightly gripping texture. While high in alcohol, it tastes nice and balanced. JG 5/1/19
Lush and smooth, this is another Jed Steele Zin triumph. Fresh and nicely balanced with plenty of ripe fruit; long and deep. 90 points. – Anthony Dias Blue, April 2019
also Fred Swan from NorCal Wine (who?)
88 points. This Writer’s Block Zinfandel is riper and more robust and full-bodied than its Shooting Star brother. The nose offers fresh blackberry, raspberry and black cherry, accented by black pepper other spices. The structured palate is about dark spice, unsweetened chocolate, heavily toasted oak, and chewy black fruit. Try it with saucy, braised short ribs. Drink now – 2024
Oh, the “About The Winery” info is wrong. Pretty sure Jed Steele owns Steele wines and has been around since the early '90’s.
The Casey Graybehl info is from Friday’s offer.
This was a welcome surprise at the end of the week, I’m a big fan of Writer’s Block Zin from way back, but I’ve never had one with a little age on it. Last night I drank this in a socially distanced group with a few friends, some were wine drinkers, and some not.
First impressions were straight out of the bottle, and lead us to all decide that it needed some time in the glass. LOTS of oak and dryness, high alcohol, and pretty tight. One friend noted that at the outset, this wine is a reverse mullet - party in the front, business in the back.
We let the wine sit for about 10 minutes and it opened up gracefully, still high alcohol and BIG LEGS, while we got a more balanced experience front to back (no more mullet, lol). Another observation from a friend: I like it more now that it’s let it’s hair down.
This is a great drinkable zin with a little more oak than fruit. Once it opens, you get a velvety beauty. Age looks great on Writer’s Block Zin. I’d decant this for 30 minutes if you can, or let it sit for 10 minutes in the glass to give it some time to open. Once done, drink with pizza, pasta, bbq, tuna, salad, or utter existential exhaustion. Perfect for March 373rd or just March 8th.
@losthighwayz I often get strong oak when a wine has had some time in the bottle, but the oak backed off a good bit once it was in the glass for a few minutes. I suspect after a decant you’ll have even less, but it was still present.
Today’s Rattage: 2016 Zinfandel, Writer’s Block, Lake County.
Nose is vague. There’s maybe a hint of plum, touch of oak?
Body feels non committal. It’s smoothed out considerably for a Zin, especially one this young. Likely over-manipulated. A little more secondary fermentation and it would be a textbook example of a flabby wine. Finish feels watered down. Maybe with a touch of spice if that. I happened to open this with someone with a beginner palate who has been tasting artisan wines with me all weekend. Her description of this wine: “This is a 7-11 wine”.
Keep in mind some folks actually enjoy this style of wine. So to them I say, get a case! I will be sitting out this one. It’s a clean, 2-dimensional wine at best and at this price, I’m still not sure it’s worth it. For comparison a Case of Peterson Barbera from the same general region went for less and offered more.
Wine making is tough. I generally prefer not to say anything unless I have something good to say about it. However being a lab rat compels me to do so.
In hindsight, I would have blended this wine with something else. If you’re looking to stock up on a “relatively” cheap wine to pad your reserves and open as a half decent second or third bottle, this will suffice. If you’re like me and enjoy at least 3-4 dimensions in your wine experience regardless of price point, you should probably skip this wine.
@winesnob I’ve become largely immune to Lab Rat positive reviews, especially after tasting a couple wines that didn’t come close to their glowing comments, but I really appreciate an unabashedly honest negative critique. Thanks!
@DanOR@winesnob That’s why I try to not editorialize too too much when I get the golden ticket. I try to describe the wine, its style, and be as objective as possible because turns out we all have different palates!
Thanks for the report!
@kaolis classy. You like it. I get it. I appreciate the suggestion, however that [aerating] most definitely won’t be necessarily with this wine.
It requires the absurdly fantastical assumption that this wine somehow has enough complexity locked up inside it, that one simply must run it through an extreme aerator to gleen more insights.
But since we’re sharing honest opinions. I will oblige. I taste wines from all corners of the world on a weekly even daily basis. Wines at all price points and levels of complexity. In this golden age of winemaking, it is inexcusable that someone make, AND bottle a wine like this, THEN ask that I pay $11 for it because it’s a “bargain”.
This makes it abundantly clear to me that they are high off their own supply and never bothered to taste around and see what else is going on out there. A Barefoot Red from my local gas station will give this thing a run for the money at $3.99 for the magnum.
Rubbish, Garbage seem like understatements.
Here’s a list of wines we’ve seen before on Casemates in this sub $200/case price range that can stand tall and proud.
Clayhouse Cab/Tempranillo/Blend (sippin one tonight actually)
Baker Lane Syrah
Altue
Peterson (yup!)
Apriori (don’t forget this one!)
Qupe (oh hell yes)
These are just off the top of my head. To even suggest that this wine is in the vicinity of the above is laughable at best and lamemtably blasphemous.
And in case you’re still having any doubts, the last thing I need is the approval and validation of someone tho thinks this is a worthy wine…LOL
I have bought a few wines here and at RWS and other vendors that seemed over hyped and one dimensional when I first tried them. Trying them a few months later now, and some of them seem to be a completely different wine. Shocked from travel maybe? I’m not qualified to say, but wines I did not enjoy at first, seem much better now.
I was thinking to retry a Cabernet Franc from this maker last night, and if I had been in the least bit interested in this offer I would have to see if it had gotten better. I recall it being good, but not great, and disappointed after reading the hype about it. I just have too much red wine at this point to bother.
I think very often my focused delivery gets misconstrued or misread as bruised or personal. It is not. I understand most people just want the short version.
I try to keep my reviews on topic (the wine) and in perspective (the wines we’ve seen before on here). Based on these, I make my assertions. Take it or leave it. If someone thinks otherwise, I expect them to articulate and/or defend their position to me at least as clearly as I did mine so that I can hopefully learn and/or advance my understanding.
I believe I have written two unfavorable reviews on here (including this one). The last one was the Baker Lane Cuvee, where I took exception with the price point and the assertion someone on here made (can’t remember who) that it was a $30+ bottle, which was complete nonsense.
As pointed out here by a few folks, it is disingenuous to extol a mediocre wine like this and mislead others to buy it only to realize what a waste it was. I have no problem calling it out and the hive mentality that perpetuates this and will continue to do so.
If I am bruised, it is because I could have been tasting something truly special yesterday instead of this.
@Springbank Indeed. Winemaking can be unforgiving, but it affords a very unique opportunity and privilege to create something special (no matter the price point). We’ve been very fortunate to see some great wines come through here on Casemates.
I am profoundly disappointed when I encounter a wine that screams apathy, a lack of effort or desire to seize their opportunity to make something special/magical. I spent most of the day wondering how a Zinfandel of all varietals, ends up like this and why?
@ttboy23 That was a fun exercise down memory lane. There have been some really special hits on Casemates indeed. I’m down to my last bottle of the Alue and another one, Praxis I think it is. District 7 was another hit! Couldn’t get enough.
My first Rattage was the 2013 Peterson Barbera, the one with the strange label which turned out to be a real gem of a wine and was something like $88/case!!! That was just insane! And should really put things in perspective.
@winesnob Missed the Praxis and the Alue, shoot. Love Peterson! Are you talking about the District 7 Pinot that just shipped? We like that one a lot. Split the Baker Lane Syrah as well.
I also got a bum labrat wine last time. I was a bit kinder than it deserved. We didn’t even cook with it.
I bought a case before I read @winesnobs labrat…and thus was thinking…uh-oh…but I just opened my first bottle just tonight, and it is absolutely fine! Delicious in fact! This is what I love in a Zin, spicy, peppery and a great mouth feel. Definitely more than 2-dimentional wine, and I am so glad I bought it!
2016 Writer’s Block Zinfandel, Lake County
Tasting Notes
Vineyard Notes
Food Pairings
Specs
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$288/Case at Steele Wines for 12x 2016 Writer’s Block Zinfandel, Lake County
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Mar 29 - Tuesday, Mar 30
Writer’s Block Zinfandel
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Writer’s Block Zinfandel
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Writer’s Block Zinfandel - $35 = 21.20%
and of course there is a Wine Enthusiast review…
89 Points. Generous, smooth and full bodied, this wine offers ripe black-plum and blackberry aromas, mouthfilling flavors and an appealing, lightly gripping texture. While high in alcohol, it tastes nice and balanced. JG 5/1/19
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/writers-block-2016-zinfandel-lake-county/
from the tasting panel magazine:
Lush and smooth, this is another Jed Steele Zin triumph. Fresh and nicely balanced with plenty of ripe fruit; long and deep. 90 points. – Anthony Dias Blue, April 2019
also Fred Swan from NorCal Wine (who?)
88 points. This Writer’s Block Zinfandel is riper and more robust and full-bodied than its Shooting Star brother. The nose offers fresh blackberry, raspberry and black cherry, accented by black pepper other spices. The structured palate is about dark spice, unsweetened chocolate, heavily toasted oak, and chewy black fruit. Try it with saucy, braised short ribs. Drink now – 2024
http://www.fredswan.wine/2019/12/06/winemaker-jed-steele-and-four-current-releases/
fwiw
@kaolis Reverse Wine Snob offered this wine the other day for $13.50/bttl, also from WCC. The link to their description is here: RWS - Writer’s Block
@ejrunion Actually that is the petite sirah, not this zin. I’ve done that before this time of day, not enough coffee!
@kaolis DOH! So sorry! Yes - not enough coffee and after-effects of the 2nd Pfizer dose!
Oh, the “About The Winery” info is wrong. Pretty sure Jed Steele owns Steele wines and has been around since the early '90’s.
The Casey Graybehl info is from Friday’s offer.
@kaolis correction submitted, tnx
@kaolis Jed Steele made this wine, but the winery has since been sold: https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=235397
@salcorn Noticed that, thanks. Although the website still mentions him as owner, but we all know how current winery websites can be.
This was a welcome surprise at the end of the week, I’m a big fan of Writer’s Block Zin from way back, but I’ve never had one with a little age on it. Last night I drank this in a socially distanced group with a few friends, some were wine drinkers, and some not.
First impressions were straight out of the bottle, and lead us to all decide that it needed some time in the glass. LOTS of oak and dryness, high alcohol, and pretty tight. One friend noted that at the outset, this wine is a reverse mullet - party in the front, business in the back.
We let the wine sit for about 10 minutes and it opened up gracefully, still high alcohol and BIG LEGS, while we got a more balanced experience front to back (no more mullet, lol). Another observation from a friend: I like it more now that it’s let it’s hair down.
This is a great drinkable zin with a little more oak than fruit. Once it opens, you get a velvety beauty. Age looks great on Writer’s Block Zin. I’d decant this for 30 minutes if you can, or let it sit for 10 minutes in the glass to give it some time to open. Once done, drink with pizza, pasta, bbq, tuna, salad, or utter existential exhaustion. Perfect for March 373rd or just March 8th.
@erisire Thank you for the rattage.
@erisire March 373rd!!! I love it! Thanks for the notes!
@erisire a bit surprised you detected any oak given the wine only saw 15% new oak. Can you elaborate a bit? Love zin but not an oak fan. Thanks!
@losthighwayz I often get strong oak when a wine has had some time in the bottle, but the oak backed off a good bit once it was in the glass for a few minutes. I suspect after a decant you’ll have even less, but it was still present.
Today’s Rattage: 2016 Zinfandel, Writer’s Block, Lake County.
Nose is vague. There’s maybe a hint of plum, touch of oak?
Body feels non committal. It’s smoothed out considerably for a Zin, especially one this young. Likely over-manipulated. A little more secondary fermentation and it would be a textbook example of a flabby wine. Finish feels watered down. Maybe with a touch of spice if that. I happened to open this with someone with a beginner palate who has been tasting artisan wines with me all weekend. Her description of this wine: “This is a 7-11 wine”.
Keep in mind some folks actually enjoy this style of wine. So to them I say, get a case! I will be sitting out this one. It’s a clean, 2-dimensional wine at best and at this price, I’m still not sure it’s worth it. For comparison a Case of Peterson Barbera from the same general region went for less and offered more.
Wine making is tough. I generally prefer not to say anything unless I have something good to say about it. However being a lab rat compels me to do so.
In hindsight, I would have blended this wine with something else. If you’re looking to stock up on a “relatively” cheap wine to pad your reserves and open as a half decent second or third bottle, this will suffice. If you’re like me and enjoy at least 3-4 dimensions in your wine experience regardless of price point, you should probably skip this wine.
I hope you find this helpful.
Cheers my friends
@winesnob I’ve become largely immune to Lab Rat positive reviews, especially after tasting a couple wines that didn’t come close to their glowing comments, but I really appreciate an unabashedly honest negative critique. Thanks!
@DanOR my pleasure! Cheers my friend!
@winesnob Thanks for the label shots.
@rjquillin always. Cheers buddy!
@DanOR @winesnob That’s why I try to not editorialize too too much when I get the golden ticket. I try to describe the wine, its style, and be as objective as possible because turns out we all have different palates!
Thanks for the report!
@winesnob Maybe you needed to run it through one of those useless aerator glasses you like… ha!
@DanOR @klezman my pleasure. You’re welcome buddy.
@kaolis classy. You like it. I get it. I appreciate the suggestion, however that [aerating] most definitely won’t be necessarily with this wine.
It requires the absurdly fantastical assumption that this wine somehow has enough complexity locked up inside it, that one simply must run it through an extreme aerator to gleen more insights.
But since we’re sharing honest opinions. I will oblige. I taste wines from all corners of the world on a weekly even daily basis. Wines at all price points and levels of complexity. In this golden age of winemaking, it is inexcusable that someone make, AND bottle a wine like this, THEN ask that I pay $11 for it because it’s a “bargain”.
This makes it abundantly clear to me that they are high off their own supply and never bothered to taste around and see what else is going on out there. A Barefoot Red from my local gas station will give this thing a run for the money at $3.99 for the magnum.
Rubbish, Garbage seem like understatements.
Here’s a list of wines we’ve seen before on Casemates in this sub $200/case price range that can stand tall and proud.
These are just off the top of my head. To even suggest that this wine is in the vicinity of the above is laughable at best and lamemtably blasphemous.
And in case you’re still having any doubts, the last thing I need is the approval and validation of someone tho thinks this is a worthy wine…LOL
Please!
@kaolis @winesnob
I have bought a few wines here and at RWS and other vendors that seemed over hyped and one dimensional when I first tried them. Trying them a few months later now, and some of them seem to be a completely different wine. Shocked from travel maybe? I’m not qualified to say, but wines I did not enjoy at first, seem much better now.
I was thinking to retry a Cabernet Franc from this maker last night, and if I had been in the least bit interested in this offer I would have to see if it had gotten better. I recall it being good, but not great, and disappointed after reading the hype about it. I just have too much red wine at this point to bother.
@kaolis @winesnob
Lol, I could be wrong but I don’t think Kaolis was questioning the validity of your tasting note.
@kaolis @ScottW58 @winesnob there’s a bruised ego post
@CruelMelody @kaolis @ScottW58
There’s an old saying. Let sleeping dogs lie.
I think very often my focused delivery gets misconstrued or misread as bruised or personal. It is not. I understand most people just want the short version.
I try to keep my reviews on topic (the wine) and in perspective (the wines we’ve seen before on here). Based on these, I make my assertions. Take it or leave it. If someone thinks otherwise, I expect them to articulate and/or defend their position to me at least as clearly as I did mine so that I can hopefully learn and/or advance my understanding.
I believe I have written two unfavorable reviews on here (including this one). The last one was the Baker Lane Cuvee, where I took exception with the price point and the assertion someone on here made (can’t remember who) that it was a $30+ bottle, which was complete nonsense.
As pointed out here by a few folks, it is disingenuous to extol a mediocre wine like this and mislead others to buy it only to realize what a waste it was. I have no problem calling it out and the hive mentality that perpetuates this and will continue to do so.
If I am bruised, it is because I could have been tasting something truly special yesterday instead of this.
@Springbank Indeed. Winemaking can be unforgiving, but it affords a very unique opportunity and privilege to create something special (no matter the price point). We’ve been very fortunate to see some great wines come through here on Casemates.
I am profoundly disappointed when I encounter a wine that screams apathy, a lack of effort or desire to seize their opportunity to make something special/magical. I spent most of the day wondering how a Zinfandel of all varietals, ends up like this and why?
@CruelMelody @ScottW58 @winesnob Peace and love. Light at the end of the tunnel and a new wine for us all to bitch about tomorrow right?
@winesnob Welp, guess THAT sums it up now. Love that wine list! I’ve had/still have all of them except I didn’t get to try the Altue.
@ttboy23 That was a fun exercise down memory lane. There have been some really special hits on Casemates indeed. I’m down to my last bottle of the Alue and another one, Praxis I think it is. District 7 was another hit! Couldn’t get enough.
My first Rattage was the 2013 Peterson Barbera, the one with the strange label which turned out to be a real gem of a wine and was something like $88/case!!! That was just insane! And should really put things in perspective.
@winesnob I have 2 or 3 of the Praxis left. Must re-visit! Oh, and 1 Peterson Barbera.
@winesnob Missed the Praxis and the Alue, shoot. Love Peterson! Are you talking about the District 7 Pinot that just shipped? We like that one a lot. Split the Baker Lane Syrah as well.
I also got a bum labrat wine last time. I was a bit kinder than it deserved. We didn’t even cook with it.
@winesnob @wnance
Praxis, should probably try to find those…
I bought a case before I read @winesnobs labrat…and thus was thinking…uh-oh…but I just opened my first bottle just tonight, and it is absolutely fine! Delicious in fact! This is what I love in a Zin, spicy, peppery and a great mouth feel. Definitely more than 2-dimentional wine, and I am so glad I bought it!