Sleek and impeccably built, with floral raspberry, mint and licorice aromas that lead to vibrant and focused blueberry and cherry flavors, accented by white pepper and bay leaf details.

Sleek and impeccably built, with floral raspberry, mint and licorice aromas that lead to vibrant and focused blueberry and cherry flavors, accented by white pepper and bay leaf details.

One of the many highlights in this range, the 2015 Zinfandel Dina's Vineyard is also the most expressive of these six Zinfandels from Hartford. Bright aromatics and striking delineation are two of the signatures in this finely-sculpted, nuanced Zinfandel. Blood orange and a host of citrus notes add brightness throughout. This is a lovely showing.

A real whopper is the 2015 Zinfandel Dina’s Vineyard, which comes from vines planted over 100 years ago and tips the scales at a heart-thumping 16.3% natural alcohol. There is a touch of Alicante in the blend with Zinfandel. Notes of pen ink, graphite, licorice, creosote, lavender and pepper along with enormous quantities of blackberry and black cherry fruit soar from the glass of this thick, viscous, heavy-duty, pedal-to-the-metal Zinfandel. It is a Mediterranean-tasting wine that could pass for a Southern Rhône from France in a blind tasting. This wine should drink nicely for 8-10 years, if not longer.

The 2014 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard is aromatic, lifted and nuanced, with pretty earthy, savory undertones that add complexity. This is an especially gracious mid-weight Zinfandel. A host of bright red stone fruit and pomegranate notes add the closing shades of nuance.

The 2014 Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard is pliant, round and deeply expressive, with darker tonalities of fruit and plenty of exuberance. Black cherry, plum, olive and savory herb overtones race across the palate as this deep, pungent Zinfandel shows off its irrepressible personality.

Like the Highwire, the 2013 Zinfandel Hartford Vineyard is very much explosive and powerful, but it also has more than enough fruit and pure mid-palate density to bury the tannins. Layers of fruit build to a huge, voluptuous finish. Today, the 2013 is a baby. I imagine it will still be fabulous at age twenty, perhaps beyond.

The 2013 Zinfandel Dina's Vineyard emerges from a parcel of 100 year-old head-trained vines next to Highwire. Savory herbs, flowers and distinctly red-toned fruits open up in a precise, chiseled Zinfandel long on personality. A dollop of Carignane in this parcel seems to add brightness and nuance. Polished and silky through to the finish, the 2013 Dina's is one of many highlights in this exceptional range from Hartford.

The 2009 Zinfandel Jolene's Vineyard was bottled without fining or filtration. It exhibits a deeper ruby/purple color along with abundant notes of loamy soil, boysenberries, black cherries and a garrigue-like character that is reminiscent of a southern France Rhone Valley wine. The perfumed style is in keeping with the personality of this charming, fruit-forward, fragrant vintage. Drink this medium to full-bodied, juicy, impeccably pure Zinfandel over the next 7-8 years. One of the top Zinfandel specialists in California is Don Hartford at Jess Jackson's Hartford winery. They also produce an impressive portfolio of Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays under the Hartford Court label. These five Zinfandels all come from dry-farmed, low-yielding, old vine Russian River sites.

Inky purple. Highly perfumed aromas of raspberry, cherry, Asian spices and potpourri, with a note of cracked pepper in the background. Juicy, precise and palate-staining, with impressively deep red fruit liqueur flavors giving way to darker fruits with air. Rich but surprisingly light on its feet, finishing with excellent clarity and persistence. These vines are reportedly 96 years old.

From another iconic site for Hartford, the dense ruby/purple-colored 2009 Zinfandel Dina's Vineyard (a 94-year old vineyard) exhibits beautiful boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry fruit along with a flinty, graphite, earthy character. This full-bodied effort is a brilliant example of both the vintage and the varietal. It should drink well for 5-7 years. One of the top Zinfandel specialists in California is Don Hartford at Jess Jackson's Hartford winery. They also produce an impressive portfolio of Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays under the Hartford Court label. These five Zinfandels all come from dry-farmed, low-yielding, old vine Russian River sites.

A reference point offering, the 2008 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard exhibits abundant aromas of blackberries, cassis, sweet cherries, and earth as well as blockbuster flavors. Rich and full-bodied with oodles of fruit, a layered texture, a velvety style, and a luscious, concentrated finish, this superb Zinfandel should age nicely for 5-7 years. However, it is impossible to resist at present because of its seductive power and richness. …proprietors Don and Jennifer Hartford not only produce superb Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, but also some of the finest Zinfandels made in northern California.

From even older vines (102 years), the 2008 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard boasts abundant aromas (black raspberries, blackberries, spring flowers, spice) reminiscent of a top-notch Pomerol. Silky-textured and full-bodied with a superb texture and a long finish, this is another exquisite Zinfandel to consume over the next 5-7 years.. …proprietors Don and Jennifer Hartford not only produce superb Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, but also some of the finest Zinfandels made in northern California.

My favorite of this group, is the 2006 Zinfandel Dina’s Vineyard (15.8% alcohol). From another 100-year-old parcel of seven acres of head-trained, dry-farmed vines, this wine offers copious quantities of raspberry and blueberry fruit, a full-bodied, peppery, spicy personality, and oodles of glycerin and depth. It is a beauty and a superb Zinfandel.

A stunning wine is the 2006 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard (100-year-old vines in sandy loam soils). This dense ruby/purple-colored wine shows notes of black raspberry, sweet cherry, roasted herbs, pepper, and soil notes. It is full-bodied, powerful, with head-spinning levels of alcohol (15.8%). The wine has terrific purity and should drink nicely for 4-6 years.

Boasts a dense saturated ruby/purple color, and a big, peppery, sweet nose of black cherries, raspberries, licorice, forest floor, and underbrush. This spicy Zinfandel possesses abundant richness, concentration, and intensity.

Don Hartford tends this 90-year old vineyard located on approximately seven acres in the Russian River appellation of Sonoma County. The wine is magnificent. Anise and aromatic scents mark the nose with chocolate, mocha, dark fruit spice. Opulent and probably the way zin fans really like their wines.

This is what Russian River Zinfandel is all about. Rich, dynamic and layered, with complex fruit, offering notes of jammy black raspberry, stony mineral, herbes de Provence and licorice. The finish unfurls at length.

This is what Russian River Zinfandel is all about. Rich, dynamic and layered, with complex fruit, offering notes of jammy black raspberry, stony mineral, herbs de Provence and licorice. The finish unfurls at length.

This Russian River Zinfandel is a blend of five old-vine, dry-farmed and low-yielding vineyards from the Russian River Valley AVA with an average vine age over 100 years. It is aged in French oak, 42% new, for 16 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2015 Zinfandel Russian River is redolent of baked blackberries, dried mulberries and blueberry preserves with hints of leather and spice box. The palate is full-bodied with loads of berry preserves and Indian spice layers supported by chewy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long, savory and with wonderful poise.

The 2014 Zinfandel Russian River (1,500 cases) is full-bodied, offering terrific black raspberry and black cherry fruit and peppery, earthy, meatiness. Very lush, with well-integrated wood, alcohol and acidity, this is a beauty with a sensational texture and length. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.

New Releases from Oregon Light yellow color. Complex aromas of limestone, wet river rocks, chalk dust, with honey, lemon curd, lemon meringue and salted almond. So vibrant and crisp on the palate, gorgeous texture and depth but stays brisk. Apricot, limes, lemon curd, the fruit is doused in saline, mineral, sea salt, white tea, honeyed biscuits and salted almond. Complex, deep, refreshing, delicious, this is insanely good stuff. The wine spends 16 months in a combination of French oak and stainless steel.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Latro from Knights Valley is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in two-thirds new French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. This has a touch of roasted Provençal herbs in it, with some white chocolate and terrific blackcurrant intensity intermixed with a hint of graphite. Full-bodied, opulent and flamboyant, this is a beauty to drink over the next 15 or so years.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair (there’s a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) comes from Napa Valley and was brought up just under 60% new French oak. It’s a beautiful, classic – elegant even – Cabernet that has loads of crème de cassis, lead pencil, graphite, and tobacco nuances. It’s very much in the style of the 2014 vintage with its medium to full body, no hard edges, beautiful balance, and sweet tannins. As Napa Valley Cabernet goes, it’s also a stunning value. This beauty is capable of drinking well for at least 10-15 years.

A terrific value in Napa Cabernet, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot) sports a deep ruby/purple color as well as terrific notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, white chocolate and flowers. It offers loads of fruit, a full-bodied, pure, elegant texture, sweet tannin and just a charming, balanced, classic style that begs to be drunk.