We cannot get enough Hook & Ladder - their wines always overdeliver in a big way, and this one in particular has us swooning with every sip.

Looking for a BBQ friendly fruit bomb for the summer?

We got you. A high-octane, estate-bottled, Russian River bombshell coming in hot.

…and the price? Coming in low, under $20.

Hot & low, our favorite combo!

Yup, perennial favorite Hook & Ladder is back with a firework Zin! Always overdelivering at absurdly fair prices. And today’s wine is no exception. In fact, it could be their best bargain yet.

You might recognize that DeLoach name. The famous winemaking family sold their winery years ago. But they couldn’t shake that winemaking itch, so they started a label named after the fire station where Cecil DeLoach was stationed in San Francisco. If you have been around, you know they have a stronghold in the Russian River Valley.

Zin lovers be warned: intoxicatingly perfumed aromas flood your nose from the moment you pull the cork. That leads into a lush, juicy glassful of raspberry, tea leaf, and fresh-squeezed blackberries. Subtle oak-imparted flavor of vanilla and gingerbread enter the mix alongside a subtle herbaceous note. It really shines in its composition however with surprisingly refined tannin for a Zinfandel that just provides the perfect framework for that lovely fruit. You get all that classic Zin juiciness with a soft, approachable body. Throw a Korean bibimbap bowl at it. You’d be surprised.

Don’t miss out on a truly exceptional Zinfandel. This wine sits at the top of its class and for $19, you’ll wish you bought an extra case to get you through summer.