Sunce Winery & Vineyard, Old Vines Zinfandel 2015, La Prenda Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California

Tasting Note: When it snows, I instinctively reach for zinfandel, and this voluptuous zin is a total comfort dripping in ripe, black fruit.

Deep-intensity ruby in color, this wine has an aromatic, pronounced-intensity nose of blackberry, fig, raspberry puree, blueberry, dried cherry and rhubarb compote.

On the palate the dry, full-bodied zinfandel has medium-plus-intensity, black-fruit flavors suggested on the nose supported by medium acidity and ripe, medium-tannin ultimately completing with a long finish.

The wine is big and bold.

Pair with red meat or skip dessert as this wine will complete your meal.

Bottle Note: Sunce is a family winery located in the Russian River valley appellation of Sonoma County – specializing in small artisan lots of vineyard designated varietal wine and classic blends. These century vines are the type that folks pull over on the side of the road to paint. Juicy raspberry fruit greets the palate as wafts of licorice, and cinnamon saturate the senses. Pleasant loganberries and faint prune jam reminisce of an earlier era Zin. In the mouth there’s a tease of a sweet spot, though it finishes dry, lingering for a while with aftertastes of long ago days of molasses and baker’s chocolate in the pantry. This gentlemen of Zin can be at the table as an old friend would invite himself, or he could sit outside with a pipe or a cigar to officiate the waning sun. Only 12 barrels made.