Impenetrable colour; dark berries and oak in profusion; depth and structure; appropriate oak.

Inky black in color and densely rich on the palate. This is one of the Zins from this winery - plush, silky, sexy, and complex, with a broad array of black cherry, plum, cola, coffee, chocolate, spice, and herb flavors. Velvety smooth and long on the finish. Editors' Choice.

Sleek and smooth, jam packed with solid fruit redolent of black cherry, plum, chocolate, cassis, coffee, herbs, licorice, spice and cola. Quite complex, elegant, and long on the finish. An excellent wine from a top-notch producer.

This supple, smooth style is a winner with us. Velvety tannins frame a core of black cherry, blackberry, plum, licorice, sweet oak, herbs, toast, tea, coffee and spice flavors. This finish is the elegant, long, and lush, with just enough brightness on the finish.

Full bodied, rich and beautifully textured. Plush chocolate, coffee, plum, vanilla, licorice, black cherry, spice, cedar and herb notes co-mingle here in a fine showing of an elegant, powerful Zinfandel. Long and lush at the end.

Quite aromatic; a firm, lingering spicy aftertaste which gives the wine personality and lift.

Quite lush. Richly textured and elegant, with a solid center featuring black cherry, plum, raspberry, chocolate, coffee, spice and herbs. Velvety tannins frame the plush layers of fruit that extend long on the finish. Editors' Choice.

A Port-like style, fruity and sweet, with sharp acidity that adds more shock value than balance. Cherries, blackberries, plums and spice are at the core. Try this with a cigar or Stilton.

Soft and fruity, with good body and a core of black cherry, plum, cassis, spice and herb notes. A bit bright on the finish, but nice nonetheless.

Another stunning offering is Edmeades' 2001 Zinfandel Ciapusci Vineyard. A perfume of plums, figs, earth, black cherries, raspberries, smoke, dried herbs, spice box, and pine forest is followed by layered, fat, fleshy, full-bodied, in-your-face Zinfandel that manages to retain good freshness and vigor in spite of its weight and concentration.

The wine is tremendously heady (one glass will provide and instant buzz), with a gorgeous bouquet of raspberry liqueur, cherries, incense, spice box, and other wondrous scents. Slightly sweet, perhaps because the glycerin is so high given the alcoholic power, this intriguing, fascinating effort should be shared among... many friends.

Exhibits a smorgasbord of aromas, including resiny pine forest notes, black currants, cherry jam, licorice, and incense. Deep and full-bodied, with great fruit, tremendous freshness, and a vigorous, exuberant, flamboyant finish, it will provide pleasure of the next 4-5 years.

This dramatic, perfumed offering reveals resiny notes intermingled with red and black fruits, flowers, and forest floor, medium to full body, outstanding fruit concentration, good underlying acidity, and a touch of tannin. Drink this beefy, bigger-than-life Zinfandel over the next 4-5 years.

The Napa is big-bodied, loaded with texture and fruit, mouthfilling and long on the palate.

Ripe and firm, with a burst of blackberry, violet and black cherry flavors. Herb, cedar and earth tones fold in on the finish, where there's a trace of heat.

Firm and and concentrated, with wild berry, violet, blackberry and plum flavors. Cedary overtones and solid tannins extend through a vibrant, lingering finish.

Filled with charming fruit, with layers of berrylike flavors, good acids and a bracing, coffee-ground finish. This has been a longtime favorite, and is often available for less than $20.

Decanter Wines of the Year - Whites

Fragrant scents of yellow hers and chamomile. flower blossoms and pollen give this clean wine a light touch. Match its honeyed spice to a spring salad of beets and arugula.