Dane Cellars brings us a Zinfandel for Zinfandel Lovers. This Gold Medal winning and 93 point wine is an intoxicating fruit bomb that impressed our Agents - especially the Zin-fanatics among us. If you’re a fan of the grape, or want to see what all the fuss is about, this delightful Zin shows off the very best of what “California’s grape” can do when properly handled by a skillful winemaker.

This Zinfandel has a deep, dark crimson hue that is consistent to the very edge. The nose on this wine is intoxicating and intriguing, with notes of fresh ripe fig, creme caramel, brambles, potpourri, and quince. Wow! Once you tear yourself away from the bouquet and get around to sipping the wine, your palate is rewarded with butterscotch, blueberry, fig, vanilla, brown sugar, and cherry. This light-bodied Zinfandel has very approachable tannins that make this one an easy-drinker from start to finish. This wine is so tasty, and so fun, that it might be best paired with a bowl of seasoned popcorn and your favorite movie.

Zinfandel has a long history and interesting history. Only recently, its lineage has been traced all the way back through Italy and into Croatia, but California is really what put it on the map with its huge fruit-forward character.

Enjoy, Operative!

Check out this great video from the winemaker himself:

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Here’s what the wine press has to say:

Gold Medal - 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition

93 Points - Chris Sawyer - “Located on the rugged west-facing slope of the Mayacamas Mountains above the historic city of Sonoma, The Chamizal Vineyard is home to a steep, rocky terrace of Zinfandel vines that were originally planted in 1976. To preserve the ripe flavors and the wild, rustic character of these stately old vines, winemaker Bart Hansen of Dane Cellars ages the wine in a mixture of new and mature French barrels and bottles the finished blend unfined and unfiltered.

Big, rich and commanding: This wine opens with brambly black fruit aromas mixed with hints of smoked meats, wild herbs, leather and savory spices. Full-bodied with a plush texture, the concentrated flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, huckleberry, dark cherry, black pepper, licorice and roasted walnuts are balanced with silky tannins, firm structure, and lingering dry finish. These elements create a compelling expression of this classic mountain vineyard in liquid form. The end result is a complex wine loaded with power, elegance and dark berry goodness in every sip. Suggested food pairings: ripe cheeses, charcuterie, risotto with wild mushrooms, grilled pork chops, hearty stews, tender steaks, and herb-encrusted rack of lamb.”