Woot Cellars Late Harvest Zinfandel (4)

[lucasmeeker]

@rjquillin

Understand this isn’t fortified, but…
In CA, what is permitted for differing types of fortification?
Does it vary for different wine types?

California is not uniquely governed in this way. TTB regulation regarding identification does not specify:

(3) Dessert wine is grape wine having an alcoholic content in excess of 14 percent but not in excess of 24 percent by volume. Dessert wine having the taste, aroma and characteristics generally attributed to sherry and an alcoholic content, derived in part from added grape brandy or alcohol, of not less than 17 percent by volume, may be designated as “sherry”. Dessert wines having the taste, aroma and characteristics generally attributed to angelica, madeira, muscatel and port and an alcoholic content, derived in part from added grape brandy or alcohol, of not less than 18 percent by volume, may be designated as “angelica,” “madeira,” “muscatel,” or “port” respectively. Dessert wines having the taste, aroma, and characteristics generally attributed to any of the above products and an alcoholic content, derived in part from added grape brandy or alcohol, in excess of 14 percent by volume but, in the case of sherry, less than 17 percent, or, in other cases, less than 18 percent by volume, may be designated as “light sherry,” “light angelica,” “light madeira,” “light muscatel” or “light port,” respectively.

27 CFR 4.21.(a).(3)
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=506cf0c03546efff958847134c5527d3&rgn=div5&view=text&node=27:1.0.1.1.2&idno=27#sp27.1.4.c

California does regulate sugar independently from the Feds, including labeling standards for Sherry, Port, Tokaj, etc. You can see that here:

https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/IAB5B2A80D60611DE88AEDDE29ED1DC0A?originationContext=document&transitionType=StatuteNavigator&needToInjectTerms=False&viewType=FullText&contextData=(sc.Default)

FURTHER RESEARCH
Looks like the TTB has not really done a very good job of locking in the definition of fortified wines in the US, but there is some implication that it should be grape derived spirits only. See this release:

http://www.ttb.gov/rulings/77-33.htm

So it basically turns out that what is used to fortify the wine basically determines the tax class it belongs to and whether it is “wine” or a liquor/cordial/whatever.

The ruling held that, if alcohol from a source that would not be eligible for domestic wine was used to increase the alcohol content in a wine, such wine would be regarded as a dilution or mixture of ethyl alcohol and would be taxed on importation at the distilled spirits tax rate.

[klezman]

@lucasmeeker

SWEET WARS: THE FRUCTOSE STRIKES BACK
A dessert wine primer…

Nice summary!
Why do you say Fro-Zin is the only wine made that way? I’ve had many an “icebox” wine, including Scott Harvey’s Angel Eis. Although maybe I missed something in how you produce it that’s different. (We have one bottle of that left also…it’s delicious!)

[time2testit]

I really wish RHWMBO and I could remember this from the RPM tour since you all seem to remember it as being so good. Can’t find any notes. Definitely don’t need more right now, but on the fence for 1 (or 2).

[lucasmeeker]

@klezman

Nice summary!
Why do you say Fro-Zin is the only wine made that way? I’ve had many an “icebox” wine, including Scott Harvey’s Angel Eis. Although maybe I missed something in how you produce it that’s different. (We have one bottle of that left also…it’s delicious!)

Because it’s not made the same way to my understanding.

That wine is made from late harvest fruit, at least to my understanding. That’s the distinction I was making in that part of my post.

There are other wineries who have used artificial freezing to make sweet wines, but to my knowledge we are the only people achieving the concentration factor and color of Frozin. Frozin is picked at 24-25 Brix, when we would pick for table wine. We concentrate the juice to 35 plus Brix.

[rjquillin]

@lucasmeeker

27 CFR 4.21.(a).(3)

Phew, and I thought reading 14 CFR was convoluted.

Really appreciate the links.

[mrn1]

@Winedavid39

Thanks and great to hear.

Lucas Meeker is the real McCoy.

This is the only time you’ll see the wine at this price. (Lucas thinks this is the best woot cellars value ever).

“only time” and “best woot cellars value ever” sure got me off the fence!!!

[Nostrom0]

Will this arrive in Texas by Thanksgiving?

[ddeuddeg]

@Winedavid39

Lucas Meeker is the real McCoy.

If you want proof of this, read his summary on dessert wines. From experience, I already knew much of the info, but it’s a terrific summary.
Unlike most wooters, I have the good fortune to live within a few hours drive of virtually all the icewine produced on this continent.
The other dessert wines are much more widely available.

[bdlsmoran]

[QUOTE=mrn1]

@Winedavid39

Thanks and great to hear.

Lucas Meeker is the real McCoy.

This is the only time you’ll see the wine at this price. (Lucas thinks this is the best woot cellars value ever).

“only time” and “best woot cellars value ever” sure got me off the fence!!!

Damn enablers, in for 1

[mommadeb1]

I discovered I have 1 original left!! I still can’t decide how many to get…

[rjquillin]

@mommadeb1

I discovered I have 1 original left!! I still can’t decide how many to get…

Duh, 3 you fool!

[Winedavid39]

@Nostrom0

Will this arrive in Texas by Thanksgiving?

Likely in the nick of time.

[mommadeb1]

@rjquillin

Duh, 3 you fool!

I was good…ha ha ha I only got 2… of course my family is going on and on… “you bought how many more bottles?” “why, mom… why?” ha ha ha and when I replied “it’s a woot cellars!!! Meeker!! you know, the place that had the cool hand prints on their bottles and had the FroZin!!” Mr. Mommadeb is just walking around the house shaking his head and muttering to himself!

[tenuki]

@mommadeb1

I was good…ha ha ha I only got 2… of course my family is going on and on… “you bought how many more bottles?” “why, mom… why?” ha ha ha and when I replied “it’s a woot cellars!!! Meeker!! you know, the place that had the cool hand prints on their bottles and had the FroZin!!” Mr. Mommadeb is just walking around the house shaking his head and muttering to himself!

Just remind him of all the money you’re saving without our yearly Vegas trips

[p2002]

I might have missed this somewhere, but is there any mention as to how many barrels\bottles of this juice came to be?
FWIW: I saw this come up last evening and thought I should sleep on it… then I woke up! In for two.

[lucasmeeker]

@p2002

I might have missed this somewhere, but is there any mention as to how many barrels\bottles of this juice came to be?
FWIW: I saw this come up last evening and thought I should sleep on it… then I woke up! In for two.

About 390 cases. I expect much of it to be gone by the end of the day.

[btb601]

Wine rookie here. Almost pulled the trigger on this until I noticed it said half bottles.
You guys must be CRAZY…or richer than me??? Now I’m bummed, been waiting for a dessert wine.

Any recommendations?

[kylemittskus]

@btb601

Wine rookie here. Almost pulled the trigger on this until I noticed it said half bottles.
You guys must be CRAZY…or richer than me??? Now I’m bummed, been waiting for a dessert wine.

Any recommendations?

First: we aren’t rich. We’re all poor thanks to this site.

Second: most dessert wine comes in half bottle (with some offering 750ml and rarely larger). So, yeah, half bottles, but that’s pretty standard operating procedure.

Third: dessert wine is generally more expensive because of a multitude of factors.

I’m quite sure that you won’t find a dessert wine of this or similar quality for less than this offer. But, if you hit us with a price-range and what you’re looking for, we can try to direct you to something closer to what you’re looking for.

[mommadeb1]

@tenuki

Just remind him of all the money you’re saving without our yearly Vegas trips

ha ha ha… but I make up for it during D&D! I think I brought home 3 cases last time. and I only brought 2 empty cases with me… I definitely have a buying problem… good thing I have enablers to help me!!

[mommadeb1]

@kylemittskus

First: we aren’t rich. We’re all poor thanks to this site.

Second: most dessert wine comes in half bottle (with some offering 750ml and rarely larger). So, yeah, half bottles, but that’s pretty standard operating procedure.

Third: dessert wine is generally more expensive because of a multitude of factors.

I’m quite sure that you won’t find a dessert wine of this or similar quality for less than this offer. But, if you hit us with a price-range and what you’re looking for, we can try to direct you to something closer to what you’re looking for.

Very well stated!! I completely agree… this is a GREAT price from a GREAT winemaker!!