Tonight I am trying the most popular wine from Lafayette Selections, OVZ Zinfandel by Oak Ridge Winery in Lodi, CA. The particular vintage is an 2005. OVZ stands for Old Vine Zinfandel, it is known that the older the vine the concentrated flavor and more complex fruit it develops. Older vines do not produce as much fruit, but what they do produce is a higher quality grape in fewer amounts. The resulting fruit has more access to minerals in the soil and sunlight.
The bottle boasts vines that are between 50 and 100 years old! What I am unsure of is if these vines, are original to Lodi. Regardless of the origin of the vine, it produces a big bold Zin that does not overpower you with the spicy peppery flavor that makes a lot of Zins hard to sip. It is fruit forward meeting your lips with some black cherry and blueberry and leaving you with balanced finish that sticks with you. It was really nice to find a Zin that did not bulldoze me with black pepper flavor.
Now, one thing you need to know about the Wine Diva is that I drink wine for enjoyment. I may not always have the "perfect" food or cheese on hand. Yes, these things do enhance a wine, but my philosophy is to drink what makes you happy!
Last night, I happened to have already planned my menu when I came across this bottle of OVZ. I decided to go with it anyway! Yes, I would have preferred to have that wine with a dish like an herb crusted lamb on a creamy risotto, but I had shrimp. So, how to make shrimp stand up to a big Zin? Lots of spice! We seasoned them right up, and grilled some asparagus right next to them on the grill. The result? A flavor party!
My one suggestion would be to pop this wine into the fridge for just a few minutes prior to opening. This will mellow it out a bit. I also be sure to let it breathe a little. I have a little gadget called the Vinturi that is a huge help. I will be dedicating a blog to this little gem soon!
Cheers!
