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.

Subdued floral aromatics open this delightfully complex, dry wine, lilting in lemon, green apple and stone. Beautifully balanced, it begs for inclusion at the table, ready to complement or contrast, lingering in orange blossom on the refined finish. Editors’ Choice.

This producer continues to up its game with this variety, becoming more impressive with every vintage. With the majority stainless-steel fermented, it offers tart, tangy grapefruit pith, lemon and lime around a grip of sublime texture and length.

A mineral-driven white, this is waxy and lemony on the palate. Light bodied, crisp and vibrant, it doesn’t hold back on complexity, weaving a lengthy story of perfumed near-perfection.

A very successful vintage for Freemark Abbey's wines overall, and this young, intensely concentrated Merlot is a star of the year. Quite tannic now, with delineated blackberry, cherry, cassis, cola and spice flavors, its best years are ahead. Cellar this impressive wine for 4-6 years.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines Aromas of blackcurrants and pine needles with cedar and sandalwood. Full-bodied, round and very chewy with lots of fruit and a hint of new oak. This will be a beautiful wine. Needs three to five years of bottle age to come together.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines Wonderful aromas of blackcurrants and fresh herbs, such as basil and tarragon. Medium to full body and round, silky tannins. Lovely finish of blackcurrants and sage. Shows structure.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A blend of 75.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.9% Merlot, 7.3% Petit Verdot, 6.1% Cabernet Franc and 1.6% Malbec, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is deep garnet-purple colored and reveals open-knit, expressive cassis and baked plums scents with hints of pencil shavings, menthol, dark chocolate and damp soil plus a waft of unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied, concentrated and giving mouth-filling black fruits and savory layers, it finishes with a provocative grainy texture.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is scented of crushed black currants and blackberries with touches of licorice, cigar box and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has lovely fine-grained tannins and a refreshing backbone supporting the vibrant, youthful fruit, finishing long with a minty lift.