2011 Linne Calodo Outsider
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Tasting notes
(78% zinfandel, 18% syrah and 4% mourvedre): Bright ruby. Cherry-cola, black raspberry, anise and woodsmoke on the highly fragrant nose. Plush and open-knit, offering powerful bitter cherry and blackberry flavors and a touch of fruitcake. Closes with excellent cling, smooth tannins and impressive vivacity, leaving spice and floral notes behind. This densely packed but elegant wine is built to reward cellaring.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2011 The Outsider, my favorite of the Zinfandel dominated blends, checks in at 78% Zinfandel, 18% Syrah and 4% Mourvedre. Deep, rich and layered, with blacker berry fruit, spice box, underbrush, licorice, white pepper and meaty qualities, this complex, rich and brilliantly textured 2011 is hard to resist. Enjoy it over the coming 7-8 years or so. Drink now-2021. This was a fantastic lineup of wines by proprietor Matt Trevisan and all of the current releases have brilliant purity of fruit and a lively, energetic feel without ever coming across as lean. Blends are the rule here and these are character-filled efforts that could come from nowhere else. Highly recommended. Tel (805) 227-0797; www.linnecalodo.com
The 2011 Outsider is another huge, powerful wine. There is no shortage of intensity here, but less in the way of nuance. Dark cherry, plum, spice, leather, licorice and French oak notes inform the structured, virile finish. Overall, the 2011 comes across as a bit heavy. In 2011, the blend is 78% Zinfandel, 18% Syrah and 4% Mourvedre.