Somms, truffles & epicurians: ZAP & Zinfandels have come a long way, baby | Food and Drink

Another ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) Grand Tasting has come and gone, this past February 2, 2013 in San Francisco. After 22 years, ZAP’s annual Grand Tasting has morphed into an extremely civilized affair, which is now reflected in the wines themselves:  partly because of relatively cooler temperatures of recent California harvests (2010 and 2011), and partly because of swelling consumer/media grumblings about Zinfandels being too high in alcohol and lacking balance or elegance. You may ask, since when is Zinfandel supposed to be “elegant?”  The fact remains:  many of the Zinfandels poured at ZAP last Saturday seemed more squarely.. VIEW MORE »