Category: Zinfandel

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Fiddletown

Retail Price: $22

Tasting Notes: A complex Zinfandel that combines both elegance and power in its bold flavors of raspberry, blackberry, cassis and smoke. The agile smooth mouthfeel and a balancing lush texture provide a very well-structured, long-lasting, finish.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Amador County

Retail Price: $25

Tasting Notes: Powerful dark fruit up front, and a touch of oak, emerge from this smooth Zinfandel. It finishes with a subtle savory notes and a nice tannic finish that gives the wine balance.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Paso Robles

Retail Price: $23

Tasting Notes: Bold and powerful flavors of red currant, black pepper and rich raspberry are complemented by a judicious use of oak. This is a wine for hedonists with over-the-top body, structure and tannins.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Lodi

Retail Price: $27

Tasting Notes: Deep purple in color, a concentrated, full-bodied Zinfandel that has expressive aromas and flavors of plumb, raspberry and black cherry. The bold, rich mouthfeel provides a finish that is smooth and expansive.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Lodi

Retail Price: $22

Tasting Notes: This high-octane Zinfandel has a dense structure coming from old vines in Lodi. Full-bodied, and bold with intense blackberry and raspberry notes that are rounded out by aging in small oak casks.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Lodi

Retail Price: $17.99

Tasting Notes: From vines averaging 85 years old, this wine has aromas of berries and spice. On the palate, you will taste sweet dark fruit with a hint of black pepper leading to a long lingering finish. Lodi Zins tend to be a little on the jammy side and this wine is no exception, but it is a definite crowd pleaser.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Lodi

Retail Price: $20

Tasting Notes: Powerful and balanced Zinfandel with flavors of plum, black cherry and a hint of cinnamon. Full-bodied and rich in flavor, the rigid tannins and plumpness of the fruit are very complementary.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Lodi

Retail Price: $16.99

Tasting Notes: It had a bright garnet leaning towards the orange-brown spectrum. The nose was pronounced with ripe fruit. The finish was lingering with balanced acidity and revealing layers of structure as it opened. A very nice value.