Carnivor Zinfandel Review
Carnivor Zinfandel comes from Modesto, California, USA.
Much of the fruit for this wine came from premier vineyards in Lodi.
The wine was aged in American and French oak, which as you’ll see below, comes through in the wine’s flavor.
Carnivor Zinfandel Wine Review
While this wine is a Zinfandel, it is also blended with both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
From the bottle:
Carnivor Zinfandel is a captivating combination of full-bodied flavors and elegant spice. Bold notes of dark cherry and blackberry jam complement hints of mocha and toasted oak.
I tasted the 2015 vintage of this wine.
Appearance
Carnivor Zinfandel is very dark ruby in color with a purple meniscus around the edges.
I was unable to see any light get through this wine.
A tip and spin heavily coated up the glass and the legs that fell were slow, thick and numerous.
Aroma
When I first gave this wine a sniff I said out loud, “Mocha mocha mocha!” That was easily the dominant aroma at first.
Other notes included cherry, oak and clove. Also the tiniest bit of tar.
Nice aromatic complexity!
There was a slight and quick burn in the nose from the alcohol but it wasn’t long lasting or overpowering.
Carnivor Zinfandel alcohol content 14.5% by volume, per the bottle. Not surprising given the wine’s thick and glass-coating legs.
Taste
More Mocha, Mocha Mocha! Was this wine infused with chocolate somehow? Again, the mocha dominated.
I also noticed anise and butterscotch, along with some jammy dark red fruits. Admittedly an odd combination but it worked.
Very tasty and very smooth. However, if you’re looking for a traditional tasting wine, this isn’t one of those.
Mouthfeel and Tannins
This wine’s mouthfeel was incredibly silky. Think heavy cream.
I was hard pressed to sense any significant tannins with Carnivor. Maybe a little in the cheeks, but it took some good concentration to notice it.
Update: As the wine had a chance to breathe, I did notice more significant tannins as time went on.
Finish
Carnivor Zinfandel is long finishing with a lingering mocha flavor that hangs out in your mouth for quite some time.
Overall Opinion
Overall, I enjoyed this wine quite a bit. It did what I expected it to do, given the varietal and the label, and that was to give me a rich tasting experience.
I do have to say the mocha is very noticeable in both the aroma and flavor. It’s almost like chocolate wine!
So, if you’re looking for a unique flavor bomb, then you’ll love this wine.
If you’re a traditionalist, you might be overwhelmed by it.
Carnivor Zinfandel price paid $11.99.
Suggested Food Pairing
Sip on its own or pair this wine with either a big juicy grilled steak or barbecued ribs. Either way you won’t go wrong!
Has anyone else tried this wine?
I was surprised it was not dry.
PS: It slips down like silk velvet…
I love the maple, spice taste- the same flavor I find in red wine aged in whiskey barrels, but at a cheaper price. I don’t know how Carnivore does it. Zinfandel is my favorite wine. From my experience, Cabernet and/or Merlot don’t go well with Zin- makes the Zin taste bitter or off. It was news to me that there’s Cab and Merlot in there -I couldn’t taste any. Yay! And I appreciate Zin from Lodi.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, George. Much appreciated!
It’s always great to find a go-to wine that you love.
Cheers and thanks for visiting Honest Wine Reviews!
Jon
I do like a different tasting wine once in awhile. I thought this wine was delicious! I noticed the black cherry, chocolate and to me tobacco flavors. Also it was very creamy and smooth. I was making a big deal about it to my husband as soon as I took a sip and starting texting friends!
Thanks for commenting Mary!
I appreciate you sharing your review notes, too. It’s always good for the community to get multiple opinions.
Cheers! Jon
An excellent zin for the money! I buy it when I can find it!
Thanks for commenting Sharon!
This is actually my favourite wine. Nothing I have found has bettered it. Unfortunately others at tesco have discovered my secret and bought out the whole stock…
thanks for the Review, just one question, do you think it is good to preserve? if so, for how many years?
Thanks for commenting, Rafael!
You can probably age this wine for a few years at most. Be sure to keep it chilled to around 50 degrees F or so, no cooler than that.
Nowadays most wines are being made to drink shortly after being bottled. So, no need to wait if you don’t want to!
Cheers!
Jon
You are being nice. There is no wine from Modesto that can be considered good. The temperatures are too extreme. It does h ave a lingering taste, but one I would like to get rid of.
As a former wine consultant I have three rules:
You can make good wine from good grapes
You can make bad wine from good grapes
You can make bad wine from bad grapes
But you cannot make good wine from bad grapes.