This is fun, safe Zinfandel, inexpensive and with just enough sexy charm. See, with any other variety, “safe” from me would be a negative, but with Zin, *safe* is a huge compliment. I detest the all-too-common concoctions shooting for the stars and jamming up the rafters. This does neither, benefiting hugely from the fact it is from Napa Valley: MY favorite source for zin (St. Helena to be specific), and this checks most of those boxes.
Golden ruby with an intensely briary nose, poked with gear-lube and ground cherry. It smells like Zinfandel, and tastes like Zinfandel. Peppery-brilliance rimming the pie-cherry and sweet floral, a bit of heat ices the tannic finish. I rather like this wine.
2017 GIRARD ‘Old Vine’ Zinfandel Napa Valley 15.0
Stephen McConnell 