"Saldo" has different meanings in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, according to the winery. In Spanish, it mainly refers to "balance on hand", and sometimes it can mean "from here and there." This wine represents the best Zinfandel lots selected by Orin Swift winemaker Dave Phinney from vineyards in Sonoma, Napa, Amador, Mendocino, and Contra Costa counties.
The wine is 88 percent Zinfandel, with 8 percent Syrah and 4 percent Petite Sirah. Label alcohol is 15.5 percent. Retail is $27.99. 14,000 cases were made, so you ought to be able to find it.
This is a rich, ripe, full-bodied red wine with spicy, jammy blackberry and black cherry aromas. The alcohol is noticeable, almost like blackberry jam spiked with vodka. Rich, deep, mouth-filling mid-palate flavors of blackberry and elderberry with hints of toasty vanilla and anise linger in the finish. Tannins are restrained and round.
The wine is NOT plummy and NOT chocolatey. It is very "North Coast" Zin in style (not Paso, not Lodi, not Sierra Foothills … despite any Amador blend component). The structure and a light malic note in the nose suggests cooler climate fruit.
This 2008 Saldo is a well-structured yet yummy wine. Bright and firm. Ripe and fine. Delicious, full, and surprisingly elegant.
DAH is David Anthony Hance at ZinSite.com and SteampunkWines.com
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