Kunde Estate
Century Vines Shaw Vineyard Zinfandel Reserve
2005
CALIFORNIA
Picture it...October 31st, 6 o'clock in the evening. Our street is about to be bombarded with tiny princesses, witches and miniature buzz lightyear's. Our front porch is illuminated with candles & pumpkins lining the walkway. My husband brings around 2 patio chairs and table getting ready to start our yearly tradition: sitting outside with a big bowl of candy and a bottle of wine. Always excited to see his choice, I anxiously wait... which wine will he pull tonight! He walks out of the front door with 2 glasses and bottle...oh, yes, he is good. Kunde Reserve Zin from 120 year old vines. It is going to be a great start to our yearly tradition.
The only thing to complain about this bottle was the fact that the 40 degree weather had our wine chilled in about 20 minutes and didn't do much for a warm up. We definitely could have let it breathe a little as it was a bit tight at first. It only took a few minutes and it was perfect. Kunde Reserve Zin is from Sonoma County, but didn't taste like it. When I think of a Sonoma Co. Zin I think of black pepper and spice, but this was more of a big fruit bomb with some chocolate like a big Cabernet. Does that matter? Nope! It was wonderful! The finish was very lonnnnnnng and lasted and lasted. My husband opened a few of the chocolate candy to pair it with. That sounded more classy than it was. I should have said, my husband shoved his face with Reese's cups and Hershey bars and washed it down with wine in between trick or treaters, ha. This 2005 Zin is probably ideally drank 2009 to 2012 or so...oh yes, timing was perfect as it definitely reached its prime! If you see a bottle, buy it and don't wait to enjoy!
As the neighbors pass by, we laugh as they say the same thing every year, to the point that we could even mouth what each will say. The neighbor who enjoys wine as much as we do, says "Candy for the kids and wine for the adults, your own little treat!!" The lady trying to keep the ninja, lion, frog and princess from fighting over candy says ..."Oh, just wait until you have kids!"...and the classy couple with their perfect little princess in a designer costume walks over, holds the glass up to the light and says, "What bottle this year? Oh, that 2005 was a good year for Zin"...oooh, yes it was and this is great night for it!
