The palate is a little more than a little alcoholic, but not so bad that it knocks all the other flavors out of the wine (which happens to a lot of zins).

This zin is huge. It’s big and lush in the mouth -- coating and… if I may say so… pillowy. (That sounds ridiculous, so maybe I shouldn’t say that.) Sweet, nearly jammy berries mix with plenty of oak, good acidity and yes, plenty of alcoholic heat. There’s also a great winy, coffee element there that’s hard not to throw back like a soft drink.

And sadly, like a cola, the finish is pretty short. Still, it’s not bad. It ends a little waxy-plasticy, but somehow, that isn’t such a bad thing.

This isn’t a fault-free wine, but none of the people you love are perfect, either. What this wine has is charm – more than enough to make it the best buddy a pizza ever had. Sure, it’ll pair with more refined foods as well, but you really should have it with your favorite pie.

Cheers,
TSW

Look at that! I made it through the whole review without a “Gott Milk?” reference!

Lately, I’ve had California zinfandel that is a bit light and forgettable or totally over-the-top, and alcoholic enough to make the whole weekend forgettable.

This wine is about as big as you can get without being too big. It’s not the easiest red to find (check your better wine stores) but it’s absolutely worth seeking out.

The color is a deep garnet with purple overtones. In the glass it looks more like a syrah, but without the French lineage.

The nose, first and foremost, is all about big blackberry and blueberry – both a little brambly/earthy – and loads of oak and chocolate. The oak is toasty, and it mixes with the chocolate to make aromas reminiscent of the time you made smores while camping with friends who forgot to bring the marshmallows and graham crackers.