Z I N F A N D E L 99 SEXTANT 2008 Zinfandel Holystone - Paso Robles $28 98 SEXTANT 2008 Zinfandel Central Coast $16 97 BOGLE 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel California $11 97 PEDRONCELLI 2009 Zinfandel Mother Clone - Dry Creek Valley $15 97 SOBON ESTATE 2008 Zinfandel Cougar Hill - Amador County $17 Mirroring the 2008 Fiddletown Zin, this is another rich, spicy zin with wonderful a mouthfeel of raspberry, cherry, licorice and freshly ground pepper. The long lingering finish offers up some nice chocolate and oak nuances to add to the complexity. 97 VIE 2007 L'Etranger Zinfandel Blend Sonoma County $39 Pretty raspberry, blackberry and cherry aromas, with pepper spice, light cola and oak nuances. The much overused “iron fist in a velvet glove” is the only appropriate description of this wine, with the smooth, sexy qualities of syrah fortified with upfront zinfandel fruit and a nice backbone supplied by petite sirah. Yummy! 96 GRACIANNA 2009 Zinfandel Bacigalupi Vineyard - Russian River Valley $42 96 POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD 2007 Zinfandel Monterey $34 96 SHENANDOAH VINEYARDS 2010 Zinfandel Special Reserve - Amador County $10 An almost Nouveau-like nose of fresh red fruit, spice and wild blackberries. This wine is a bit deceiving as it’s light enough to possibly chill a bit (not too much) and drink alone, but bold enough to stand up to heavier dishes. It’s well balanced, fruit-forward with a long, lingering finish. Excellent for the price! 96 SHED HORN CELLARS 2008 Zinfandel Lake County $24 96 SOBON ESTATE 2009 Old Vines Zinfandel Amador County $12 Pretty raspberry, cherry and blackberry aromas, with pepper spice, light cola and oak nuances. Well-balanced and tasty, this is a great everyday zinfandel that you should buy by the case! 96 SOBON ESTATE 2008 Zinfandel Fiddletown $20 Fresh raspberry, cherry and pepper aromas, with light clove, dust and oak following. A rich and complex wine, with a bold and spicy palate, forward fruit, spicy pepper notes and a classic zinfandel finish. 96 SOL ROUGE 2007 Zinfandel Lake County $24 Fresh raspberry and pepper attacks your nose, with clove, cherry, chocolate and oak following. A rather bold and spicy palate, with forward fruit, spicy white pepper notes and a classic zinfandel finish. 96 VILLA SAN-JULIETTE 2009 Zinfandel Paso Robles $17 95 CHATOM VINEYARDS 2007 Zinfandel Calaveras County $19 95 FIDDLETOWN CELLARS 2008 Bent Bow Zinfandel Amador County $24 95 IRONSTONE 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi $10 95 OAKVILLE WINERY 2009 Zinfandel Oakville - Napa Valley $25 Opens with heavy blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry and oak aromas, with undertones of anise, pepper-spice, licorice, vanilla and chocolate. Same elements follow through on the palate, in a well-balanced, full-bodied wine that fills the mouth all the way through the nice round-tannin finish. 95 PEDRONCELLI 2009 Zinfandel Bushnell Vineyard - Dry Creek Valley $20 95 ROCK WALL 2009 Zinfandel Stagecoach Vineyard - Napa Valley $40 95 SEXTANT 2009 Zinfandel Wheelhouse - Paso Robles $21 94 SOBON ESTATE 2008 ReZerve Zinfandel Amador County $24 A full nose of ripe raspberry, blackberry, plum, blueberry, chocolate and oak. A bit hard-edged on the palate, this wine delivers the same flavors in a body that could use a bit more time to round out. Still, this wine is very flavorful and will only improve with some age. 94 VIE 2007 Zinfandel Beatty Ranch Vineyard; Howell Mountain - Napa Valley $39 Compact raspberry, blackberry, cherry and cola aromas, with pepper spice, chocolate and hints of oak. Full-bodied, bold, spicy fruit in a well-balanced lingering finish. Can use a little age to open up. 93 FIDDLETOWN CELLARS 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel Fiddletown $18 93 SOBON ESTATE 2008 Zinfandel Hillside - California $13 91 METTLER 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel Epicenter - Lodi $20 91 SAN MARCOS CREEK 2009 Zinfandel Paso Robles $26 90 VENGE 2009 Late Harvest Zinfandel Oakville - Napa Valley $37/375ml