Though the winery is more widely known over past decades for Cabernets, this Pinot Noir from ZD is absolutely top notch. It displays a complex bouquet of ripe fruit, cola, tomato leaves and baking spices, with many of these notes carrying over to the flavors. A layer of sweetness betrays the wine’s California origins, and some Pinot purists will find a bit too much of this for their taste, but if paired with a smoky, spicy pork dish, this will convert any doubters. A Platinum Award winner at the 2021 Critics Challenge International Wine and Spirits Competition.
ZD Wines, Carneros, Napa Valley (California) Pinot Noir 2019
By Michael Franz