De La Montanya, Zinfandel, Sack Vineyard Russian River Valley 2004 ($32/sample) – Dark purple in color with blackberry and plum aromas coming through quite a lot of cedar. Lots of dark fruit and pepper flavors that barely balance the alcohol, but the thick, rich mouthfeel and lack of noticeable tannins is intriguing. Finishes hot with a slightly raisony aftertaste, but nothing objectionable. For lovers of big Zin’s only and not one to match well with food. Drink now before the fruit goes away.
Score: 8.5/10
