Previously, I really enjoyed Josh Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at a past Majestic press tasting, so I thought I’d try the Zinfandel and I’m glad I did. Aged in charred bourbon barrels for two months, this 2021 vintage has an ABV of 14.5%.
At first, the aroma was a little subdued, but after just half an hour in the decanter, it opened up beautifully, revealing a great cherry aroma reminiscent of a muted Rioja. The taste is rich and spicy, packed with blackberry, vanilla and caramel, gradually developing into deep dark chocolate notes. With low to medium tannins, this wine is ripe, smooth and incredibly full-bodied. It gives the impression of being jammy and sweeter than it actually is, something I’ll touch on later. The mouthfeel is gloriously round, leading to a long finish with a lingering caramel aftertaste. I paired it with a rich tomato-based dish and, the next day, a creamy dish and it held up impressively. Food brings out more of the wine’s woody character.
There’s a lot to discover in this wine. It’s one of those that initially comes across as jammy and sweet, but that perception isn’t down to residual sugar. Most of us appreciate a touch of sweetness, hence why sugar is often added to ready meals. The first sip of a sweet wine is pleasant for most people, including me, but if the sweetness sensation comes from actual sugar, it can quickly overwhelm the flavours with each subsequent sip. Not so with this wine.
To test the wine, I measured the residual sugar and it sits right on the border between dry and off-dry. The jammy profile comes from something else. Low acidity is sometimes used to create a rounder mouthfeel, but that’s not the case here either. Again, I tested it and the acidity is actually high, approaching levels typically found in white wines. The high acidity plays a crucial role in balancing the relatively high alcohol content.
Instead of sugar or low acidity, the wine’s jamminess and roundness stem from its 14.5% ABV, the intensity of its fruit flavours and its ageing in bourbon barrels. Some reviews of this wine complain that this wine doesn’t taste strongly of bourbon or exhibit heavy oak, which completely misses the point and intent. Bourbon barrel ageing isn’t about imparting an obvious whiskey-like character, rather it serves to soften the tannins, introduce a smoother texture and lend a subtle caramel note that rounds out the overall experience.
Priced at £14.99 as part of Majestic’s Mix Six deal, down from its usual £24.99 per bottle, this wine offers exceptional value. As of writing, it’s currently out of stock online, but it’s worth checking in-store for availability. I managed to buy another one in my local Majestic before they ran out.
