Force of Nature, Paso Robles (California) Zinfandel 2013

This wine’s label is gorgeous, with thick, tactile paper and a way cool embossed image in blacks, blues and Zinfandel-purple ink. Happily the wine is equally outstanding — Zin on its best behavior.  Without being rowdy it is big and muscular, with lightening bolts of energy, lip-smacking juicy red and black fruits, and just enough acidity to keep it food-friendly. I recently had it with a bowl of Pasta Putanesca, which turned out to be heavenly matchmaking.