Wine & Spirits - June 2020 - 57

savor courses through its black plum flavors, darkly elegant. For grilled Italian
sausages. (243 cases) § -P.J.C.
518950

90 | Robert Hall

$42

2017 Paso Robles Cavern Select Dusi
Vineyard Zinfandel ^ From a revered site
planted in the 1920s, this wine displays
complex aromas of black plum and olive,
motor oil and rail tie. It's dark and tightly
contoured, firm tannins hugging the
fruit, as they would a lamb chop. (W&S
2/20; 299 cases) § -P.J.C.
520134

87 | Ballard Lane

$12

2018 Central Coast Zinfandel (Best
Buy) ^ This offers plenty of bang for
your buck, its jammy blackberry flavor
accented by notes of black pepper and
charred wood. (1,695 cases) § -P.J.C.

carrying plenty of sugary depth, yet guided
by mild tannins and judicious oak. It's an elegant zin for fennel-rubbed pork loin. § -P.J.C.
520387

91 | V. Sattui

$39

2017 Lodi Old Vine Pilgrim Vineyard Zinfandel ^ There's a panoply of spice in this zinfandel, from vines planted nearly 70 years
ago. Scents of cocoa, clove, olive and za'atar
give way to sumptuous chocolatey flavor,
with new oak to frame the richness. Fire up
the barbecue and pour. (430 cases) § -P.J.C.
520516

90 | The Federalist

$23

2017 Lodi Zinfandel ^ Briary and bright, this
spicy zin has scents of sarsaparilla and dark
plums. The lean, crisp texture makes it particularly beguiling. § -P.J.C.

S IE RRA FOOTHILLS
520389

93 | V. Sattui

C E N T R A L VA L L E Y

$37

2017 Amador County Amador Ridge
Vineyard Zinfandel ^ Sourced from old dryfarmed vines, this zin feels classic and elegant in its briary cinnamon scent and finegrained, dusty tannins. Those tannins give it
the structure to support its fleshy, ripe fruit
with finesse. (272 cases) § -P.J.C.
519045

90 | Andis

520231

93 | Mettler

$25

2017 Lodi Epicenter Old Vine Zinfandel ^ From a 50-year-old vineyard in what
the Mettlers refer to as the "epicenter"
of Lodi's old-vine zin vineyards, this is
impressively nimble and expressive for a
Central Valley zinfandel. Notes of olive
and acacia turn sweet as spice cake with
air. The black plum flavors are concentrated, forward and generous, held in a
vinous grip of tannin. (704 cases) § -P.J.C.

$25

2017 Sierra Foothills Painted Fields Old
Vine Zinfandel (Best Buy) ^ Drawn from
multiple old-vine sources, this is grippy and
powerful. With air, it really starts to sing, in
its dark purple-plum fruit and bittersweet
chocolate tannins. It has the weight for a pot
roast. (W&S 2/20; 800 cases) § -P.J.C.

CALIFORNIA AVA
520447

89 | Renwood

$13

2017 California Zinfandel (Best Buy) ^ This
bargain-priced zin is succulent, sweet and
luscious, with a brambly scent and a mildly
sanguine savor to the tannins. It's got plenty
of flavor for the price. § -P.J.C.

OREGON
520449

90 | King Estate

520422

92 | Cosentino

$20

2018 Lodi Cigar Zinfandel (Best Buy) ^ This
manages to convey structure and restraint
despite the lush character of Lodi fruit. It's
posh and succulent, its dark-berry flavors

$55

2016 Rogue Valley Carpenter Hill Vineyard Petite Sirah ^ Leave it to King Estate
to produce a petite sirah with fruit so cool
you'll be reminded of white grapes-pinot
gris, anyone? This wine is exotic and spicy,
with scents of cinnamon, clove and citrus
and an elegant core of black plum fruit. The
spicy orange notes on the back end suggest
this would pair well with game, like pheasant.
(475 cases) § -P.J.C. n

Wine&Spirits
Our Score
Definitions
W&S scores are based on
quality and distinctive regional
character, to help you find
delicious wines grown and
made with integrity.

100
Transcendent
A wine that speaks directly from
the earth, communicating the
flavors of its place with unequaled
complexity and intensity; it will
offer pleasure for decades.

96 to 99
Astonishing, Rare
A wine that saturates the senses
with flavors that feel unique
and thrilling; a rare
landmark for its region.

93 to 95
Exciting, Distinctive
A wine that transcends simple
typicity to its region or variety-a
vivid, singular expression of place.

90 to 92
Delicious, Compelling
A compelling wine of its region;
a delicious, finessed
expression of a place.

88 to 89
Delicious, Representative
Well-made, pleasurable and
true to its region or variety.

85 to 87
Balanced, Crowd Pleasing
Identifiable in style and regional
character, and qualitatively solid.

80 to 84
Useful
Simple wine that will either
quench thirst or play a
useful role at the table.

https://www.mettlerwine.com/Shop/Wines https://www.cosentinowinery.com/2018-cigar-zin-lodi

Wine & Spirits - June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - June 2020