DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNER

Peirano Estate 2018 Old Vine Zinfandel
The Heritage Collection
(Lodi)  $16

Aroma: Raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, cherry, dried cherry, cherry cola, berry pie, dessert at dusk, anise, fennel greens, tobacco, leather, musty, smoky, oak.
Palate: Cherry, black cherry, blackberry, boysenberry, strawberry, plum, black fruit medley, peach, red orange, dried fruit, rose, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, tobacco, vanilla, well balanced, bright, fresh, juicy, rich.
Finish: Dark cherry, plum, strawberry, fruit salad, spice, anisette, lingering tobacco, smoky, layered, clean, big, bold, rich, smooth, pleasant.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Saracina 2018 Pick and Shovel Zinfandel
(Mendocino County)  $32

Aroma: Blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, plum, prune, peach, apricot, daisies, dark chocolate.
Palate: Pleasant cherry, ripe cherry, strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, cassis, cranberry, lemon, coconut, vanilla, black pepper, solid tannins, good structure, balanced, fresh, smooth.
Finish: Blackberry, strawberry, black cherry, black plum, Red Delicious apple, fresh peaches, clove, plowed earth, tannin, wood, clean, fresh, smooth, a fun wine, elegant.

Gold Medal

McManis Family Vineyards 2019 Zinfandel
(Lodi)   $12  BEST VALUE

This wine was made predominantly from Zinfandel grapes that were fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 4-6 months in a combination of new and used French and American oak, with the addition of some wine from Teroldego and Petite Sirah grapes added before bottling.

Aroma: Blackberry, black currant, pomegranate, blueberry, kiwi, hint of banana, prune, raisin, Raisin Bran cereal, herbal, tobacco, light tannins, touch of smoke, oak.
Palate: Blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, currant, plum, deep prune, raisin, cola, mocha, balsam liquor, spice, pepper, red pepper, tannin, oak, soft, rich.
Finish: Lingering blackberry, black cherry, plum, prune, blueberry pie, lemony, nutty, tannic, well balanced, everyday Zin, rich, velvety.

Gold Medal

J Dusi Wines
Paper Street Vineyards 2019 Zinfandel
(Paso Robles)  $68

Following fermentation, this 100% zinfandel wine was aged in French oak (30% new) for 18 months before bottling.

Aroma: Fresh raspberry jam, concentrated blackberry, cherry, black currant, dark chocolate, winter wheat, leather, musty, wet aged wood, woody, port-like.
Palate: Black cherry, Bing cherries, fresh picked raspberry, boysenberry, blackberry, plum, plum jam, jammy, very juicy, lemon, citrus, cola, mocha, good structure, fresh, hearty, bold.
Finish: Boysenberry, strawberry, raspberry jam, cloves, warm autumn baking spices, nice tannins, bright, very lively.

Gold Medal

Mike & Molly Hendry 2018 Zinfandel
R.W. Moore Vineyard
(Coombsville, Napa Valley)   $42

Aroma: Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon apple crisp with oats, eucalyptus, tobacco, leather, earth, flint.
Palate: Black plum, red plum, strawberry, blackberry, currants, cherry, black cherry skin, jammy, licorice, black pepper, leather, wood, nice balance, layered, rich, complex.
Finish: Cherry, plum, blueberry, red apple, cola, tangy, lemon, pepper, tobacco, granite, birch, oak, pine, layered, good for fall dining, soft, traditional style.

Gold Medal

Seven Oxen Estate Wines 2017 Zinfandel
(Paso Robles)  $40

Aroma: Cherry, black cherry, Bing cherry, strawberry, red raspberry, blueberry, cranberries, currants, peach, floral notes, mint, cinnamon, smoke.
Palate: Blackberry, blueberry, luscious red berry, currants, cassis, fig, apricot, lemon, citrus, juicy, spicy, light tannins, mineral, gravel, wet stone, lean, bright.
Finish: Cherry, red berry, fruit forward, peppery, light tannin, soft, easy drinking, everyday Zin, super with food.

Gold Medal

Lorenzi Estate 2017 The Catalyst Reserve
(Temecula Valley)  $125

This wine was made from a blend of Zinfandel (65%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), Syrah (10%), Petite Sirah (7%) and Merlot (3%) grapes, that following harvest were fermented in French oak barrels (60% new) for 36 months before bottling.

Aroma: Concentrated blackberry, ripe plum, spearmint, cinnamon, Aleppo pepper, cocoa, dusty, smoky, tannins.
Palate: Bright blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, cassis, raisin, vanilla, cocoa, tobacco, tannins, nicely structured.
Finish: Lingering black cherry, strawberry, mulled wine, clove, pepper, earth, graphite, gravel, balanced, soft, easy, elegant, drink by the fireplace.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

The Terraces 2018 Zinfandel
(Napa Valley)  $42

Aroma: Luscious fruit, black cherry skin, dark chocolate, creamy, vanilla, violet, fresh perfume, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, tobacco, leather, faint smoke, oak.
Palate: Raspberry, blueberry, high elevation fruit, cassis, raisin, black cherry skin, rose, herbal, spice, earth, tobacco, leather, smoky, rich.
Finish: Sweet tobacco, perfume, clove, baking spice, nice tannins, fresh, clean, luscious texture, enjoy outdoors.

Silver Medal

Wonderment 2017 Old Vine Zinfandel
Burton Ranch Vineyard
(Kelsey Bench, Lake County)  $40

Aroma: Purple plum, red raspberry, blueberry, cherry juice, raisin, cola, apricot, apricot jam, grass, violet flowers, herbal, herbaceous, grassy.
Palate: Boysenberry, cherry, deep red grape, grape Jolly Rancher, flowers, perfume, licorice, green tobacco, nutmeg, black pepper, tannins, cedar, soft.
Finish: Red berries, cherry, plum, raisin, very peppery, tannin, light oak, a sipper, easy to drink.

Silver Medal

Capo Creek 2018 Estate Zinfandel
Eva’s Vineyard
(Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County)  $85

Aroma: Purple plum, plum juice, black plum skins, cherry, raisins, tobacco, coffee grinds, spring grass, earth, smoky, oak.
Palate: Strawberry, blackberry, red berries, cherry, bright fruit, juniper, vanilla, mocha, herbaceous, anise, cinnamon stick, cardamom, light black pepper, gravel, soft tannins, everyday Zin.
Finish: Plum skin, lemony, citrus notes, lingering fruit, spicy, well balanced, interesting, nice, soft.

Silver Medal

Wonderment 2017 Old Vine Zinfandel
Bacigalupi Vineyard
(Russian River Valley, Sonoma County)  $40

Aroma: Black cherry, cranberry, currants, burnt orange peel, cumin, tobacco, leather, smoke, balsam wood, pine, oak.
Palate: Black cherry, boysenberry, blackberry, strawberry, blueberry, cranberry, plum, peach fruit roll-up, candied fruit, anise, mint leaf, spice, minerals, tannins.
Finish: Cherry, prune juice, jalapeño with lemon, herbal, flowers, an easy sipper.

Silver Medal