...tasted this weekend. (Sorry, nothing I could do would rotate the bottles.)
I like zinfandels for the fruit, complexity and balance the best ones offer. Since I only drink them with food a small fraction of the time they need to be able to stand alone.
3. 2016 Cline Ancient Vines Contra Costa County (WS 91) $13 - the fruitiest of the 3 with a nice forward strawberry flavor smoothly balanced with soft tannins and spice. The lightest of the 3. "Light port"?
2. 2015 Old Ghost Lodi $30 - a little less fruit but still fruit-forward, this one is the biggest of the 3 with good depth and complexity but slightly tannic on the finish. Jimbill calls it a "fruit bomb" - I disagree.
1. 2016 Turley Juvenile (WS 90) $22 - the least fruit forward but the fruit was perfectly integrated into the other flavors. Not as deep or complex as the best Turleys but this one put a smile on my face.
I'm beginning to question the Wine Spectator ratings these days. They aren't as reliable (to my taste) as they used to be.
