Zin in a Box? Seriously??

That was our reaction too, but after reading a couple of reviews, we decided to give the Bota Box a try.  Besides, who doesn't love a good inexpensive zin?

The wine comes in a 3L bag packed in an environmentally friendly cardboard box, dispensed through a tap, thus preventing exposure to light or air.  This technology promises that the wine will stay fresh for up to 45 days after opening.

We approached the first glass with a mix of anticipation and a little skepticism.  When first poured, I detected a yeasty aroma that dissipated quickly.  It is garnet in color with hints of fruit and spice on the nose.  Medium bodied, it's reasonably fruity on the palate with some spice and cherry notes, with just a hint of vanilla and cedar on a medium finish. 

Let's just say that this "Old Vine" Zinfandel is no Brazin!  It is not a big fruit-in-your-face Zin for sure.  In fact, it struck me as kind of flat - and the longer it sat in the glass, the more the fruit was muted - but it was pleasant enough and pretty easy drinking.  It makes a great second bottle wine.