Troon Vineyard Estate - Kubli Bench Zinfandel Applegate Valley 2017
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, medium violet color. The nose is moderately intense offering scents of blueberry, black currant, and rhubarb with supporting notes of cranberry and fig. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of boysenberry and mineral. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture. This Zinfandel is co-fermented with 3% Petite Sirah (a frequent varietal partner) and the wine is matured in seasoned, mature oak for a period of 12 months. $20 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Carol Shelton Wild Thing Old Vine Zinfandel Mendocino 2014
Bright, medium ruby color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of black cherry, boysenberry, and raspberry with supporting notes of plum, slate, and vanilla. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of freshly crushed berries. The finish is long and lingering with supple tannins. Medium to full-bodied and nicely balanced with a velvety texture. $19 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Carol Shelton Rocky Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile 2014
Brilliant, deep ruby/purple color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of blackberry and blueberry with supporting notes of mineral and cocoa. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of sour cherry. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Full-bodied and nicely balanced with a supple texture. $36 – 4 Stars – 91 points
The Federalist Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2014
Bright ruby red color. The nose is wonderfully complex with waves of ripe wild berry fruit, with oak, fresh and dried herbs, bramble and brush with tart cherry notes on the finish. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush berry-driven Zin with generous herbal and spice flanks that linger on to a dry finish. Full-bodied with dense fruit and bright acidity to keep it fresh and balanced. $22 – 3.5 Stars – 86 points
Carol Shelton "Wild Thing" Old Vine Zinfandel Mendocino 2013
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is forward and generous with scents of ripe red cherry, blueberry, and blackberry with accents of cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, and boysenberry jam with hints of mineral. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and creamy texture filled with ripe berry fruit with a touch of spice and subtle oak notes. Medium-bodied with a great fruit focus, ideal balance, and a very subtle interplay of oak that allows the fruit to shine. $19 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Carol Shelton Pizazz Zin/Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi 2013
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is quite subtle with soft, ripe red fruits mingling with chocolate, vanilla, and raspberry jam. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering an ultra soft and silky fruit-driven core with sweet jam and vanilla accents. Medium-bodied and super, super lush with virtually no tannins at all keeping its structure with a bright dose of acidity. $19 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Carol Shelton Rocky Reserve Zinfandel Sonoma County 2013
Deep, darkest garnet red color. The aromatics are dense and with red and black berries supported by dried berries, mineral, vanilla bean, cassis, loads of brown baking spices (especially cinnamon), black pepper, and dried blueberry. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering layers of concentrated berry fruits with generous spice and oak notes giving this wine dimension and depth. Medium to full-bodied with sexy spice and oak notes delivered with perfect balance and length. $35 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Carol Shelton Karma Zin Zinfandel Sonoma County 2012
Deep, darkest garnet to ruby red color. The aromatics reveal a dense and rich Zin with layers of ripe and dried red and black berries with accents of allspice, earth, oak, nutmeg, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. The palate fulfills the promise of the nose showing even more concentration of fruit with generous spice and oak notes adding interest and structure. Full-bodied with great balance as well thanks to a bright dose of acidity and soft, chewy tannins. $30 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
Summers Estate Two-Acre Zinfandel Napa Valley 2013
Deep, dark ruby red color. The nose is wonderfully expressive with waves of ripe blackberry, cherry, and blueberry with bramble berry, hints of leather, and rich black fruit jam. The palate echoes the nose delivering rich fruit-driven core with a frame of mineral, brown spice, and black pepper. Full-bodied with waves of dense, concentrated fruit while it offers a nice balance thanks to a bright dose of acidity. Made with 100% Zinfandel. $40 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Force of Nature Mossfire Ranch Zinfandel Paso Robles 2013
Deep purple with hints of ruby red. The aromatics are quite complex deftly marrying ripe blueberry, raspberry, and plum with cracked black pepper, cardamon, allspice, clove, pink peppercorns, and cocoa nibs. The palate equals the complexity of the nose. It's much more than fruit ideally weaving in a wide array of spice, with subtle earth tones and oak. Being a Zin from Paso you know it's going to be a mouthful but this multilayered beauty gets kudos for its subtlety as well. Made with 100% Zinfandel. $22.50 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
