American wines have a lot of stigma attached to them, which is generally because of a lot of the cheap plonk that has flooded the Irish market. On a whim a few years ago myself and a friend went halves on a Zinfandel that was over 20 euro ... I can already here the gasps. Isn't that the very same grape that is involved in various travesties that call themselves wine? In short yes, but Zinfandel is a complex grape that can produce anything from the sickly sweet (chaptalized) wines to deep and brooding blockbusters. So where does Paul Dolan stand in this wide spectrum?
On the nose there is an abundance of fruit that leaps out from the glass. At first it was almost overwhelming, but on leaving the wine to breath for fifteen minutes or so allowed to settle down and show all this zinfandel has to offer. A complex bouquet of sweet blackberry and raspberry followed by intense vanilla and cinammon notes. The fruit follows through onto the palate and is complimented by a peppery kick that gives this wine a long smooth finish. Medium bodied with the same level of tannin this is an excellent wine for those of you willing to go nuts and try something new. You don't have to break the bank either. It is currently reduced from 19.99 to 12.95 in the Mill Wine Cellar.
This wine is perfect for sitting in and enjoying on its own, but will accompany any pork based dish very well (I had it with a sausage casserole). Delicious.
Wine score: 8/10
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