French Wine – Buy 6 or more bottles and get half-off shipping with code "other88"

 

Rancho Zabaco is one of the brands in the Gallo stable, but a far cry from the confected wines on offer in most supermarkets.

Not sure on the accuracy of this, but the original land was called “Tzabaco Rancho” when in 1843, the 14-year-old son of a Spanish soldier was given a grant of nearly 17,000 acres of land that lay across the hillsides between the Russian River and what is now called Dry Creek in northern Sonoma County.

Putting the need for a brand to have a good story or a good history, this is a very good wine.

Zinfandel, or “Zin” probably needs no introduction. It has become “California’s own” grape with a loyal following. Not quite as niche as Pinotage, it’s arguably just as misunderstood and often maligned.

The same grape as the unpronounceable Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and the better known Italian grape Primitivo which comes from Puglia. You’ll see more about it in this “educational” video.

What about the Dancing Bull, then?

Lovely sweet red fruits, good body, great smooth texture. Good balance. Very good.

A great introduction to real Zinfandel (rather than that alcopoppy illuminous pink “white zinfandel” which passes for wine) .

Availability

  • Red Nose Wine (previous 2007 vintage)
  • Super Quinn
  • The Corkscrew*

Find it on wine-searcher.com.

* disclosure: I work on The Corkscrew website