Nalle Winery Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2017, California

Deep ruby in color with a wide cloudy, purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black cherries, wildflowers, light cedar, tobacco, light bell pepper, vanilla, peppercorn, earth, cloves and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, cherries, sweet strawberries, blueberries, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, bitter greens, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a nice Zinfandel from Sonoma County. Drinking nicely now even right out of the bottle. As it opens up, it gets earthier and spicier.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature, get more complexity, and remove some of the vegetable notes. Will be a 90+ wine in 5 years.

Good by itself or with food and would pair very nicely with a burger. I paired it with a Brie cheese and roasted almonds.

A blend of 91% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah and 4% Carignan. Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (25% New).

13.9% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$40.

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Inspiration Vineyards & Winery Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2012, California

Ruby in color with medium minus intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of strawberries, red currants, raspberries, wood, spices, earth, light vegetables, licorice and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cherries, strawberries, raspberries, wood, spices, earth, light vegetables, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, chocolates and coke.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This is a nice Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley, California. Showing mild complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

This 7 year old is still drinking nicely, but a little tart on the ending for my taste. Was probably better a year or two ago.

Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show some tannins.

A very small production of only 76 cases.

Good by itself and better with food. I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$25.

Mount Bullion Vineyards Casto Oaks Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2013, California

Ruby /brick In color with a wide reddish /brick rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, black cherries, sweet strawberries, wood, mocha, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, black pepper, light alcohol and pencil lead.

Medium plus in body and soft, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, red currants, oak, vanilla, tobacco, spices, chocolates, peppercorn and dark coffee.

Medium plus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 6 year old Zinfandel from Sierra Foothills is peaking now. Drinking very nicely with nice balance and complexity. Spicy with a soft mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up. Needs 90 minutes to open up properly and show the tannins. The spicy finish lingers for a few minutes.

I had this vintage a year ago and I’m glad I had another bottle. What a difference.

I paired it with meats and cheeses.

Aged for 12 months in American (mostly neutral) oak barrels.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$21.

Grand Napa Vineyards Master Red 2016 Napa Valley, California

Dark ruby in color with a cloudy reddish rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, cedar, vanilla, chocolates, spices, tobacco leaf, earth, herbs, alcohol, licorice, dust and black pepper.

Full bodied, elegant and smooth, with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, blueberries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, spices, peppercorn and dark coffee.

Spicy long finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Still young, but already very tasty. I would like to see how this evolves in 5 years.

Showing nice complexity with a great mouthfeel. Elegant, smooth and rich.

Good by itself or with food.
Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up properly (1 hour).

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Zinfandel.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85.

Ravenswood Old Hill Ranch Vineyard Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Limited Edition 1996 Sonoma, California

What a nice surprise. A tasty aged Zinfandel from Sonoma, California.

Showing black fruits with chocolates, earth, cedar, leather, vanilla, cloves, tobacco, coffee, cola, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with a great mouthfeel.

Long finish with firm, grippy tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great wine. At 23 years of age, it has enough to last for another 10 more years. Tastes like a Napa Bordeaux blend.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (30 minutes).

This Single Vineyard is good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

Yummy and delicious.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$50 (current vintage).

Robert Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel 2017 Napa Valley, California

Dark purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of sweet strawberries, raspberries, cherry pie, wood, licorice, spices, dried fruits, coffee, fresh popcorn, cloves, herbs, chocolates, mocha and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blueberries, dried raspberries, wood, licorice, earth, spices, light vanilla and peppercorn.

Medium plus in finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Zinfandel from Napa Valley. Well balanced and fruit forward with mild complexity and a nice mouthfeel. Not as spicy as I excepted.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (2 hours).

Still young and needs another 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$49.

Caymus Vineyards Suisun Grand Durif Suisun Valley 2016, California

Dark purple in color with a short purple rim.

Great fruity nose with black currants, blackberries, cherries, figs, licorice, earth, raisins, vanilla, sweet oak, spices, chocolates, mocha, coffee and cinnamon.

Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice cloves, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables and black pepper.

Long finish with round tannins.

A great Petite Sirah from the house of the Wagner family. Very fruity and enjoyable by itself or with food.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show some tannins, but yummy right out of the bottle.

Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Big bold and beautiful.

Would benefit from another few years, to mature properly, and get more complex.

Easy drinking so watch out.

I paired it with small appetizers.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$60.