Bella, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) Zinfandel 2009

Those people who think the words “elegant” and“Zinfandel” don’t go together should try Bella’s Bell Canyon. I’m by no means suggesting that this is a meek mannered wine–on the contrary, the wine hits the glass with all neurons firing and there’s plenty of spring and torque in this powerful fruit and spice based elixir. What you won’t find is that gaggingly soft, extracted fruity bombshell that still defines too many Zinfandels.