Tag: Tackitt Family Wines

Dead Zed Red still going strong in 2024

The last five and half years in the wine industry could feel like fifty years with the ups and downs of the industry and the world we live in. I was glad to hear from John Burke, the vintner of Dead Zed Red, that the brand was going strong since my February 2019 featured post as he was releasing his first vintage.

He and winemaker Leon Tackitt have continued to produce the red blend with grapes from Swiss Colina and Tackitt Family Vineyards located in the Estrella District of Paso Robles. What does change from year to year is the grape blend and the current 2021 bottling is 50% Petite Sirah, 42% Zinfandel and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 6 months in 2nd and 3rd year American oak.

New distribution in Arizona and surrounding states have given Dead Zed Red and events with Fountain Hills’ Batchelor’s Pad BBQ have brought the wine new fans and Big Chris’s haunting label make it scary enough for Halloween. The full-bodied wine has a good balance of fruit and acidity with hints of cherries, blackberries and cassis making for a good holiday drinking wine. To stay in touch with Dead Zed Red and find out about upcoming events head to their website and sign-up for their newsletter.

Watch out for Dead Zed Red, a Paso Robles red wine blend

Halfway between Los Angles and San Francisco sits Paso Robles with over 40,000 acres of vineyards and 200 wineries. One of those wineries is Tackitt Family Vineyards where Dead Zed Red is made. Dead Zed Red is a blend of 36% Grenache, 30% Zinfandel, 27% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre and 1% Viognier made by winemaker Leon Tackitt.

The red blend is the brainchild of wine industry veteran John Burke who released who started Vineyard Squadron Wines. Dead Zed Red is the first wine under the new label and was released in early 2018. In addition to John and Leon’s love for wine both served in the Navy. Leon learned about wine and learned to make wine while still in the Navy. Once he retired after serving for 27 years he embarked on his new love and second career.

Leon’s and his wife Cindy’s wines have garnered many accolades for their wines over the years.

The wine is aged in French and American oak.  I tasted it with a burger and they went well together with bright fruit, medium body and mild tannins. It is also best paired with hearty meats & pizza.

Big Chris of The Church of Horror designed Dead Zed Red’s label.  He is known for his work in the horror genre for video game design and art development in the music industry for bands KoRn and System of a Down.