A Guide to California Zinfandel

I have always had an appreciation for wine, but I admit I really didnt know much, but when I was married, my husband had a passion about wines, so I was able to deepen my love of and knowledge of wine, here is a guide about California Zinfandel

Amici Cellars 2002 Zinfandel Napa Valley Panek Vineyard Old Vine ($30). Cracked black pepper laces vibrant, full-bodied blackberry and cherry fruit. Nicely concentrated with a spicy, peppery kick. Nicely balanced. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years.

Artezin 2003 Zinfandel California ($15). Straightforward and easy to like, with ripe red raspberry and juicy plum fruit accented with black pepper, vanilla and toasty oak. Ready to drink now.

Ballentine 2001 Zinfandel Napa Valley Block 9 ($27). Too much sweet cherry and vanilla up front, but then the big, ripe Zin body kicks in along with oak and cracked black pepper. Ready to drink now.

Bayliss & Fortune 1998 Zinfandel Mendocino County ($13). Fruit forward and spicy, this wine shows good depth of flavor and a lingering finish. Nice toasted oak note emerges on the finish. Soft tannins make it ready to drink now and over the next couple of years

2003 Zinfandel Napa Valley ($14). Jammy and full-bodied, with concentrated red cherry and strawberry flavors accented with sappy, briary herbs, soft spices, cocoa powder and dusty tannins.

1999 Zinfandel Napa Valley ($14). Outstanding wine, especially at this price! The knockout bouquet includes a first wave of red cherry fruit, followed by definite black pepper and spice. These notes are beautifully realized on the palate, along with concentrated berry fruit and rich oak. Generous finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years.

1997 Zinfandel Napa Valley Signet Collection ($22). Spicy, rich, full bodied, this is a powerful Zinfandel. Great, juicy fruit with just enough oak, this is an outstanding wine that is drinking very well now and will only improve over the next few years.

Benessere 1999 Zinfandel Napa Valley ($25). Lots of structure and body reflected serious winemaking here, with concentrated currant accented with sophisticated herbal, white pepper, and toasted oak notes. Would have benefited from some more accessible, juicy fruit up front. Definitely needs some bottle age for the tannins to loosen up. Best after 2004.

Beringer 2003 Zinfandel California Old Vine Founders Estate ($11). Medium bodied, with sweet red cherry, warm spices and toasty vanilla. Not overly complex, but still tasty. Good for summer barbecue! Ready to drink now.

2001 Zinfandel California Old Vine ($11). Medium-bodied and evenly balanced, with bright red cherry and berry fruit swimming with spicy oak and black pepper. Not an overly complex or classic wine, but easy to drink and enjoy with casual, fun food. Ready to drink now.

2000 Zinfandel Old Vine Cuvee ($11). Jammy and bursting with concentrated red cherry and blackberry fruit, with touches of pepper and briar, finishing up with vanilla oak on the lush finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Another great buy from Bogle!

1999 Zinfandel California Old Vine Cuvee ($11). Another vintage, another best buy. Smooth plum and concentrated red berry fruit, accented with just enough black pepper kick. Food friendly and the price is certainly right on. Ready to drink now.

1998 Zinfandel California Old Vine Cuvee ($10) "Although '98 was a tough year in California, we just had this wine with Santa Maria style tri-tip (grilled beef) last weekend after a long day of river rafting. It's a jammy, juicy style with the deep raspberry fruit of warm climates and a bit of backbone from cooler vineyards. I noticed that it is starting to get some leathery, raisiny complexity to it now that it has been in the bottle for a bit. Winemaker Chris Smith is a master blender, and he delivers real value."

1997 Zinfandel California Old Vine Cuvee ($9). This wine made Bogle believers out of many of our participants. A wonderful combination of cherry and plum, made more interesting by the undertones of smoky herbs. An outstanding Zinfandel at an affordable price.

Buena Vista 1998 California Zinfandel ($9). Dark cherry and juicy berry blend with a pinch of pepper and a hint of oak to make this a perfectly lovely Zin.

Burgess Cellars 1998 Zinfandel Napa Valley ($19). This is a gentler, lower-alcohol version Zinfandel than many California winemakers produce. Blended with 8% Petite Sirah, the wine still includes the spice and pepper of Zinfandel, but in a more elegant, integrated wine. Drink now and over the next three or four years