on March 06, 2017 at 2:00 PM, updated Some of the best things come in threes. Hat tricks in soccer or hockey. The Lord of The Rings triology. And of course, The Three Stooges. So it came as no surprise recently when I tried three different red wines from the same California winery, Oak Farm Vineyards, and all three wines turned out to be delicious. I randomly tasted the one of the wines when I recently stopped in at Provisions, a wine store in Northampton. I liked the wine so much, I took the advice of one of the store's owners, Benson, and tried two more wines from the same winery. I'll go into more detail about the individual wines below, but what struck me more than anything was how different each wine tasted. All three were delicious but they were special in their own, unique way. This didn't come as too much of a surprise. Different grapes produce difference wines. The three wines are also from three difference vintages. But I was still amazed by the subtle differences between the three, red wines from Oak Farm Vineyards when tasting them side by side.

The three wines I tasted with a group of friends were: Oak Farm Vineyards was founded in 1864 by William DeVries, according to the winery's website. The vineyard originally used to grow wheat and raise cattle. However, the family-owned farm changed direction in the 1930s, when DeVries son, Marion, began growing grapes on the property to make wine, in addition to being a U.S. Congressman and later a judge. Die-hard California wine lovers have known about the town of Lodi in California's Central Valley for a long time. Nicknamed the "Zinfandel Capital of the World," Lodi has a reputation for producing wines that pack a powerful punch. But there's more to wines from Lodi, CA than just big, robust rockers. Among the more than 85 wineries in Lodi, you can find anything from sparkling wines and white wines as well as a wide range of reds, according to the town's website. If you're wondering where the name Lodi came from, it's Italian for "praises." So why is this town 35 miles south of Sacramento and 90 miles east of San Francisco named Lodi?

Some say the name comes from a horse that set a four-mile record. Others point to a city in Italy with the same name. But most likely, the name came from someplace less exotic - Lodi, Illinois, where some of the first settlers in Lodi, California came from more than a century ago. 2013 Oak Farm Vineyards Lodi Appelation Cabernet Sauvignon Going in chronological order, the oldest of the three wines had some of the most interesting flavors. The first time I tasted this wine, I was struck by its wide range of flavors. The wine tasted full yet fruity, slightly sharp yet woodsy. A few minutes later, the wine smoothed out considerably and was definitely the smoothest of the three wines, an attribute that I know many wine drinkers find very appealing. An hour or so later, the wine still tasted velvety smooth and had an even longer, fuller aftertaste. Perhaps my only criticism of the wine would be that this one had the most consistent, predictable arch. If you think of the wine as a character in a movie, there was no mystery or drama to where this wine was going.

It just kept getting smoother and smoother. There were no surprises here. Just smooth, delicious wine from start to finish. Think of this wine as a role tailor made for George Clooney, versus say a volcanic, young Al Pacino or a merry prankster like Jack Nicholson. 2014 Oak Farm Vineyards Lodi Appelation Zinfandel If you like your wines to have a bit of a kick, this is the one for you. Right out of the gate, this full-throttled wine raced right to the front of the pack. best italian wine citiesThis wine did not need any decanting or time to warm up. glass of wine unitsLike a closing pitcher sent in at the bottom of the ninth, this one got straight down to business.best red wine in the world 2011

The wine had a gorgeous aroma right away - a mixture of flowers and raspberries and other fresh fruit. I could also taste the fruitiness right away as well. But as the tasting progressed, this wine went through several different stages. After its initial fruitiness, the wine tasted a bit sharp or rough around the edges. Then the wine smoothed out for a while before changing course again. Suddenly, the wine had a flinty, almost chalky-like quality with a hint of plums.best california red wine 2013 Then more than two hours after I first opened the bottle, the wine seemed to veer back towards where it started in the first place - full, robust and fruity. glass of wine how much alcoholI could also still taste a hint of cherry, something I found remarkable since the wine had been open for so long. buy wine cooler fridge

Definitely everything you would expect - and more - from a powerful Lodi Zinfandel. 2015 Oak Farm Vineyards Tievoli Lodi Appelation Red Blend I saved the best for last. It was a photo finish between these three wines, but if I had to pick one, I would recommend the Tievoli Red Blend for several reasons. One, it's the least expensive of the three wines. But more important, I just loved the journey this wine took my taste buds on during the course of one night.good wine to have with indian food A blend of three grapes (Zinfandel, Barbera and Petite Sirah), this delightfully rich wine tasted like dried blackberries straight out of the bottle. best wine to go with chocolateSoon after I opened the bottle, though, this wine took a turn towards the spicy side.best wine from 2011