Gnarly Head, Zinfandel Vv, Lodi

Gnarly Head · California Lodi United States of America

Red · Zinfandel
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
85 /100
Reviews
67
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

75
75
Reviews
85.1
Avg Score
95
Highest
Taster #7541 · Jun 10, 2025
Completely oxidized, came out brown.
2006 vintage
Taster #7781 · Sep 19, 2017
84/100
Not very good. Sweet. Not what you want from a Zinfandel. Jammy.
2012 vintage
Taster #9102 · Nov 3, 2016
86/100
The wine has dark red fruits, bramble, cherry coke notes and a little residual sweetness. A lighter style that is not that complex, but a nice zin for the money.
2012 vintage
Taster #9070 · Jan 18, 2016
89/100
Very fruit forward. Pairs well with Italian or other flavorful "red" foods.
2012 vintage
Taster #7175 · Dec 29, 2015
84/100
Don't get mislead by the "old vine" label as if it's any sort of meaningful wine. But it's not bad either: it's surprisingly light with just a hint of tannins and sweetness, and if you're in a desperate need for something to accompany your pizza -- almost any pizza -- then this one will do just fine.
2012 vintage
Taster #0689 · Dec 9, 2015
85/100
Medium body, a little rough & tannic edge, good fruit and length. More complex than anticipated, Not pruney, good black fruits.
2012 vintage
Taster #9510 · Jun 18, 2015
90/100
My absolute favorite red wine for under 10€ !
2012 vintage
Taster #4898 · Mar 28, 2015
Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and vanilla nose. Raspberry and sour cherry notes are forward on the first sips. Light bodied, and minimal tannins which is a surprise for the mature flavors. A little hint of toffee on the finish. Rainforest cedar nurse log funk. A very decent wine for the price point.
2012 vintage
Taster #3187 · Mar 14, 2015
85/100
Bing cherries, cedar, on the dry side on the finish, toasty, gets kind of earthy at the mid then finishes out on the dry side.
2012 vintage
Taster #5380 · Mar 6, 2015
95/100
Warm dark fruits -- plum, black berry, cherry -- over hints of cocoa, vanilla, and honey. Smooth, velvety, and rich without being too syrupy. With a taste like a bountiful August, easily one of my favorites. A bit pricey in Seoul, at about $20 USD.
2012 vintage
Taster #3317 · Mar 1, 2015
84/100
Nice wine for just over $8.
2012 vintage
Taster #5152 · Feb 25, 2015
86/100
another pour: as described below -- but, this time, also noticed plums (taste) and green pepper (finish). Not a fruit bomb, but close. Still a good match with grilled burgers, and tasty enough to share with casual company. 1/15/2015 - 85 pts - color: medium-dark purple velvet; nose: oak (lots), cherrry, and vanilla; taste: full (and slightly hot) cherry taste, short-to-medium-length finish with black pepper notes and oakey tannins; overall: enjoyable but sloppy fruity juice, decent value-priced weeknight pour, should …
2012 vintage
Taster #9510 · Feb 12, 2015
90/100
Wonderful Zin, very smooth. Got the bottle for 10€, so its a very nice QPR. The bottle was empty so fast that I have to buy a new one to be able to write a more detailled tasting note :)
2012 vintage
Taster #4594 · Feb 5, 2015
84/100
Nice berry, vanilla upfront taste but short finish
2012 vintage
Taster #0647 · Dec 18, 2014
87/100
Dark berries, hints of cherry pie, vanilla, spice .. full bodied... enjoyed this one.
2012 vintage
Taster #0887 · Dec 15, 2014
Smells like rubbing alcohol with a hint of plumb
2012 vintage
Taster #4224 · Dec 8, 2014
82/100
Berries and spice on the nostril. Plum and raspberry, warm spiciness, bit of toasty oak, and a green character on the end. Good acidic zing here to this medium bodied food friendly guy, but too much harsh vegetative quality.. Use to like this wine in earlier years.. Maybe a bad year?
2012 vintage
Taster #2730 · Oct 26, 2014
88/100
très bon vin corsé
2012 vintage
Taster #6346 · Sep 13, 2014
90/100
The wine looks crimson colored. There is no sediment in the bottle. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has medium acidity.
2012 vintage
Taster #1207 · Sep 9, 2014
79/100
No complexity little sweet reason for the price point
2012 vintage
Taster #5726 · Jun 9, 2014
90/100
Delicious.
2012 vintage
Taster #4818 · Apr 19, 2014
88/100
Enjoyed with Indian buffet dinner at Chef's Indian
2012 vintage
Taster #2807 · Feb 16, 2014
86/100
Solid effort and so far consistent from bottle to bottle.
2012 vintage
Taster #5152 · Feb 13, 2014
85/100
color: purple velvet; nose: cherry and oak; taste: medium- to full-bodied mouth feel, fruity cherry taste, medium-length finish with notes of veg and black pepper; overall: better-than-serviceable weeknight pour, would pair well with grilled burgers and sauteed mushrooms, decent QPR ($13/bottle) but by no means a steal for the price
2012 vintage
Taster #4818 · Feb 1, 2014
94/100
Dale Robertson in the Houston Chronicle 1/29/2014 - Overall Score: 18.8 ... 8.8 for quality and 10 for value. Our tasters gave it a unanimous recommendation with a high score of 9, "Jammy with a tart cherry and a touch of leather. Balanced with an off-dry finish" Dale's score 8.7. The Lodi vines responsible for this value zin are indeed gnarly, ranging in age from 35 to 80 years. Being head-trained instead of trellised, they produce fewer bunches and tiny, …
2012 vintage
Taster #2141 · Nov 17, 2013
80/100
The wine looks Ruby colored. It smells like Raspberry, Cranberry, and Grapefruit. It tastes like Black Pepper, Grapefruit, and Cranberry. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Long with a sour finish.
2012 vintage
Taster #8551 · Nov 4, 2012
88/100
very good bottle, dry but some residual sweetness to not have that over astringent quality.. can't believe it was only $10 for the bottle
2007 vintage
Taster #4224 · Sep 5, 2012
Very good, but I think I like their regular old gnarly head better! Or at least the same, not justifying the price jump. Luckily I got this on a good deal.
2007 vintage
Taster #6864 · Jan 29, 2012
86/100
- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of strawberry jam. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of strawberry jam and blackberry with a medium body. Fleshy texture with a short finish. Nice, little bit earthy tone.
2007 vintage
Taster #1492 · Oct 16, 2011
82/100
Decanted but started drinking right away. Nose smacks you in the face with a wave of malolactic butter, which pretty much overwhelms everything else. Maybe got a hint of vanilla from the oak as well. Taste is also so buttery I barely got any fruit. After letting this open for a bit, the butter was less overpowering but still present. Some dark fruits and that classic Zin spicy finish. Can't say I'll buy this one again.
2007 vintage
Taster #3292 · Sep 27, 2011
85/100
Still good, but fading. Drink up soon!
2007 vintage
Taster #1923 · Sep 4, 2011
88/100
Nose: very fruit driven with raspberry and blueberry jam. Hint of pie, balsamic, jerk beef, and graham cracker. Relatively prominent oak. Taste: Very fruity with sweet raspberry and strawberry. Bit of balsamic undertone, and Italian seasoning. Strong tannin, the finish fall off rapidly. Bit of coffee grinds. Medium body and easy drinking. Not much depth but it will be great with burgers. Like the oaky finish that doesn't dominate too much and actually add to the wine.
2007 vintage
Taster #9665 · Aug 18, 2011
83/100
Good under $10 old vine zin.
2007 vintage
Taster #8217 · Jun 4, 2011
86/100
Solid zin. Great value for the price.
2007 vintage
Taster #3292 · Apr 5, 2011
88/100
Good stuff
2007 vintage
Taster #7779 · Feb 8, 2011
84/100
Better when consumed with acidic food--spicy chili goes well. Medium to deep ruby color--very inviting. Nose hints dark cherry/ spice. Simple wine. Good not great, but friends enjoyed without question. Easily compares to wines at a higher price point.
2007 vintage
Taster #9910 · Jan 10, 2011
84/100
Used it to make a zin Demi-glacé steak sauce.
2006 vintage
Taster #8268 · Dec 1, 2010
86/100
Decanted with the Vinturi and allowed to breathe 40 minutes. Nose: Very nice dark fruit initially and sustained throughout the breathing and drinking time (80 minutes). Color: Deep garnet Body: Medium Taste: Fruit-forward, bordering on jammy but not cloying. Not much structure or spice, but still pleasant for a mid-week wine paired with light foods. Finish: Not a particularly strong finish, but no off-notes. Overall: This is a pleasant, light, fruit-forward zinfandel at an attractive price point ($6.97). We'll probably …
2007 vintage
Taster #0852 · Nov 27, 2010
84/100
Same opinion as others. Something is off right after opening and the balance isn't right, but after it sits for a bit this is not a bad Zin and pairs up well with some beef.
2007 vintage
Taster #3454 · Nov 20, 2010
Turned
2006 vintage
Taster #2899 · Oct 23, 2010
84/100
Awfully jammy when first opened but improved as we drank it. Taste went from very sweet, almost like grape juice, to a more balanced but simple wine. Actually really good with burgers as we watched the Rangers beat the Yankees. Definitely would buy again, expecting no more than what this wine offers.
2007 vintage
Taster #6321 · Oct 20, 2010
84/100
First impression is that this wine not balanced quite right. Over the top heat, a bit better after about 30 mins. Drinkable at this price point, but have had better zins for similar or less.
2007 vintage
Taster #7238 · Oct 4, 2010
Decent for the price. Comparable to Dancing Bull. Doesn't really stand out with anything unique. Very concentrated dark fruit. Lots of candied flavors. Classic zinfandel nose. Again nothing distinguishing about it, but good for a daily drinker type wine.
2007 vintage
Taster #5604 · Jul 3, 2010
50/100
gross
2006 vintage
Taster #5092 · Jun 7, 2010
90/100
Jammy black fruit with very long finish
2007 vintage
Taster #4781 · Jun 5, 2010
85/100
Again, much better when consumed with food, this time pepperonni pizza.
2007 vintage
Taster #1609 · Jun 5, 2010
90/100
Goes well with medium - steaks, fresh potatoes and grilled asparagus. Yam
2007 vintage
Taster #2525 · Jun 3, 2010
80/100
Good inexpensive old vine zin. Good staple wine for red meats.
2007 vintage
Taster #4781 · May 20, 2010
85/100
A medium ruby in the glass, the pleasing nose features dark cherry and spice. By itself, on the lighter side of medium-bodied, with an elegant feel on the palate, transitioning quickly to an awkward acidic finish (82 pts). However, when consumed with hamburgers, the body deepened, the spice was accentuated, and this was much improved (87 pts.); quite delicious. Agree that this would be excellent to keep on hand for simple fare.
2007 vintage
Taster #9446 · May 19, 2010
86/100
Not too bad for every day.
2007 vintage