Sterling Wine Auctions Australia

The wine world is laden with clubs and cults, fads and fanatics.

Common to the eye, never centre stage, always pedalling influence, the band of brothers Zin keep a very low profile.

Zinus Maximus is dedicated to the celebration of Zinfandel in all its indulgent Roman bacchanalian glory, and the word is spreading. The wines are BIG and the story so far epic. How else would you introduce the legend Peel Estate 2000 which clocks in at 18.2% alcohol (no, it is not fortified). The power, fruit and majestic balance sweep all before it, not by bloody conquest but by agreeable influence.

OK we started off a bit rich but with good reason, this is a story of excess and contradictions.

Full fruited West Aussie Zins, (the domain of Cape Mentelle and Peel Estate) come close to redefining table wine. If you think that Mr Robert Parker jnr likes his wines big�.. well, this is another league, the league of monsters. As you would imagine, monsters are poorly understood and treated badly by unkind scribes who try to judge them by conventional table wine standards. As a result, producers tend to become apologists and Zinfandel volumes, promotion and distribution tend to be very limited. It is always hard to find a better food coupling for Zin than strong cheese.

With Zin you must think big�A charcoaled side of wild boar served baronial style in a smoky candle lit stone hall, complete with excessive toasting, merry making and comely company might do.

Recently a gathering of the brothers Zin, attended by several of the founders, agreed that Mario Lanza was the perfect Zin accompanist. Rich, sweet, sticky like honey but blessed with the class and power to delight and command attention.

There is a purpose to this ramble. If you have read tis far it might interest you to participate in a Zinfandel event being organised for Perth in September or October this year.

Expect some massive, monestrous wines, even a few petite monstres from Italy and the US. A few surprises from SA and the Aussie East coast. If a Masterclass conducted by the order Zinus Maximus is of interest. Click here and leave a name and contact number.

August 2006