2025 Quarter Three Wines Disrupted
Most Zins are not drinkable in my opinion. Even Ridge is not something I would seek out. Here is a much cheaper Zin that got disrupted.
- 2022 Pra Vinera Zinfandel Reserve – USA, California (9/13/2025)
Smoke, super ripe fruit and a chemical finish. Garbage. (65 points)
Ok this is one of the worst Pinots I have ever tasted. It makes Belle Glos look good.
- 2020 Lockwood Pinot Noir – USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County (8/30/2025)
Even worse than last time. Smoke taint with ash, black licorice and dirt. Terrible. (55 points)
I love Syrah but not this one! When a young wine does not improve over 3 days we have an issue.
- 2021 Carlisle Syrah Papa’s Block – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/18/2025)
Day 1: A bit extracted and lacks complexity. Riper fruits along with pepper, spice, rose petals and tar. In comparison to the great Syrah’s of Washington there is no comparison. Some heat on the finish. This falls short. 87 points
Day 2: Well I am done with Carlisle wines. This is such a boring, over priced wine it is ridiculous. Hot with black pepper, spice, ripe fruits and floral. Shorter finish on this one and lacks complexity. Compared to a $40 Washington State Syrah this is a joke. 85 points
Day 3: Burnt toast, muted fruit, spice, pepper and floral notes. Over extracted wine that falls apart over 3 days. Easy pass on this one. 80 points
Recommendation: Would rather drink a Tensley Santa Barbara for $25. When people say young wines don’t improve over 3 days these are the types of wines they are using to make that statement. (87 points)
Simi in the early 2000s made a reliable product but welcome to the new age of these under $20 California Wines. More laboratory wine making and here is the end result.
- 2022 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California (8/10/2025)
Wow what a terrible wine. Smoke, wood chips, ripe fruit and chalk. Finish is terrible. All these popular brands now have appellation: California. Bulk grapes made in a lab. Can’t believe people still drink this. (70 points)
Well this is an easy one based on the Wine Enthusiast 94 point score and the followers on cellar tracker that actually believe it is 94 points. While it is not bad and I paid $20 with shipping and got it to 88 points it still needs to be disrupted.
Another overpriced, garbage Napa Wine.
- 2019 Kelly Fleming Wines Big Pour – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/18/2025)
$75 Summer Salad Party Event (Minneapolis, MN): A bigger style with ripe fruit, smoke and oak. Not balanced. This is a classic example of marketing to the consumer that really doesn’t understand wine. You can find a much better wine for $30.00 that is 92 points or higher. (82 points)
- 2019 Tread Pinot Noir – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (7/1/2025)
Day 1: Spice, earth, minerals, red currants and dust. Nothing wrong at $19 but a simple Pinot at best. 86 points
Day 2: Holding form in the mid 80s. For under $20 surely a good value in the world of Pinot. Red currant, riper fruit, spice, minerals and earth. Short to medium finish. 86 points
Day 3: Like this a bit better on day 3 as the riper side of this wine has disappeared. Raspberries, strawberries, spice, earth and floral. Only reason not a few more points higher is getting burnt toast on the finish. 88 points
Day 3.5: Almost a maple syrup thing going on. Totally falling apart.
Recommendation: While not the WE 94 pointer it is a good value for $20 but full retail at $40 is an easy pass. (88 points)
