OK Wine Spies ops, listen up! We know you’re always jonesin’ for a sweet deal on Zinfandel so hold onto your britches because we’re sliding into your inbox today with a heater from a longstanding favorite. Peterson Winery’s FLAGSHIP mountainside TWS exclusive library release Zin has all the gutsy, brawny, berry basket packed oomph you crave. This ticks EVERY box – single-vineyard, mountain-grown, old-vines, massive 60% discount, priced under $20!

Jamie Peterson has 23 consecutive harvests under his belt and knows how to wrangle this high-octane varietal. This one comes from their 114-year-old estate vineyard up high on Bradford Mountain. Rising 2,000 feet in elevation, Bradford Mountain is the tallest of the peaks of the coastal ranges bordering the west side of Dry Creek Valley. From the top, the Pacific Ocean is a mere 15 miles to the west, and in between, there is nothing but forested hills, the home of countless mountain lions, deer, and wild boar. Just south of the summit lie vineyards planted to Zinfandel over a century ago. At harvest time, the story among the vineyard workers is that they know the fruit is ripe when the 4-legged indigenous picking crew arrives!

Let’s go ahead and say it, this is one of the BEST Zins we have EVER tasted.

Fascinatingly, a recent vertical the winery held live on Facebook confirms our feelings:

It’s not a fruit bomb style per se, while all the fruit you need is there, coupled with depth you find in the Greatest Hits of DCV such as a Ridge Lytton Springs and the balance that makes A. Rafanelli the legend it is. Not only does it offer youthful intensity, it also has plenty of reserves to improve for decades to come. Maybe that has something to do with the sprinkling of Petite Sirah, Carignane and Grenache in the final blend.

Juicy and lush, with a musclebound, take no prisoners attitude. Despite its full throttle style, the alcohol remains under 15%. The 2014 is just coming into its own, settling down into a lush, full-bodied beast with a soft, friendly side…overflowing with a sweet fruit basket of flavor, there’s blackberry pie, dried blueberry, smoky vanilla and ripe black licorice joining forces with a spicy, earthy backbone holding it all together. This is the all-American BBQ wine you need to have on hand for the 4th of July while grilling up some Wagyu burgers, playing backyard Wiffle ball tournaments or just soaking up some vitamin D in the kiddie pool.

A raving CellarTracker review sums it all up nicely; “wasn’t expecting this enjoyable of a Zin, and I drink a fair amount of Zin… and a fair amount of Peterson… consider this a very crowd friendly balanced version of Zin, great red (and a bit of blue) fruit, a hint of bramble and spice, and just easily quaffable. Last glass 2 days after opening still delicious.”

At a STEEP 60% break, this Zin is trading way, way below its book value of $48. In fact, ipso facto we’ve NEVER featured a Peterson Zinfandel under $20 before, so no doubt inventory is dropping like wet spinach off my 4-year-olds dinner plate…so make your move!