A remarkable wine considering the difficulty of the vintage. Perhaps that’s what appeals. It is more austere and less jammy and sweet than your average Sonoma County Zinfandel, and those are the Zins I find most attractive, especially for serving with barbecued steaks, ribs and brats. Even at a lower volume, however, there is still plenty of black-fruited brambly fruit aroma to savor.
Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) Zinfandel 2011
By Robert Whitley