Candor Lot 3 Zinfandel

Candor
Lot 3 Zinfandel
California

www.candorwines.com 

$28-32  +736645 available at select private liquor retailers

If I may speak with candor, I’d like to note that it’s pretty damn near impossible to find a well made, high quality, lovingly tended California wine for under $20. And that’s what the highly regarded experienced Austin Hope (of the Hope family behind Liberty School and Treana Winery) thought too, when he created their Candor project. In the USA, Candor wines clock in under $20, but of course the crossing of the 49^th parallel adds approximately a 50% mark up to the wine. So although this wine hits our shelves around the $30 mark, lets remember the initial goal of the Hopes: over delivery for price.

The Candor line is all about varietal character, an response to the “what does Zinfandel really taste like” concept. To answer such a multifaceted question, Austin went with a multifaceted approach. Lot 3 Zin blends 3 vintages (2008, 2009 and 2010), 2 appellations (Paso Robles and Lodi) and vine ages (gnarly old and fresh new) to create what he deems spot-on California Zin.

Inky purple in hue, with a blast of fresh jammy fruit – juicy blackberries and plum – with licks of red licorice, herbal cherry, dark chocolate and zippy spice.  Smooth tannins, a plush palate and bright acidity make this Candor, candidly, too easy to drink a lot of.  Meat and tomato sauced pasta or casseroles would work well with this. For $18 in the USA, a great steal. For $30 in BC – a good find.

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Candor Lot 3 Zinfandel

Inky purple in hue, with a blast of fresh jammy fruit – juicy blackberries and plum – with licks of red licorice, herbal cherry, dark chocolate and zippy spice.  Smooth tannins, a plush palate and bright acidity make this Candor, candidly, too easy to drink a lot of.  Meat and tomato sauced pasta or casseroles would work well with this.