Zinfandel is Long Walk’s only non-Rhône variety, but it excels equally in the hot southern Oregon growing season. I found this Zinfandel to be more restrained in size than its California cousins, with less in-your-face fruit power. Different tasters will either lament or celebrate that, but excellent balance makes this very easy to enjoy. It presents red, black, and dried fruit notes alongside iron minerality and subtle molasses and tobacco. This is a nice end-of-the-day Zinfandel and, while it certainly has enough tannins and acidity to enjoy with food, I would prefer a glass on its own.
Long Walk Vineyard, Rogue Valley (Oregon) Zinfandel 2020
By Vince Simmon