Looking for a solid Zinfandel at a good price? Check out Rancho Zabaco’s Dry Creek Valley Reserve.
Rancho Zabaco’s wines are classic, old-school zins, less blatantly jammy and fruity than most modern Zinfandels. The Dry Creek Valley Reserve has an earthy, plum character, with hints of smoke and tar. On the nose this is still unmistakably Zinfandel, but it’s more complex than your typical bottle. It lists for $24 but can be found for $17 or even less. A-
If you’re looking for an even more challenging Zin, check out Zabaco’s Monte Rosso Vineyard (pictured below), a $55 single vineyard bottling that is reminiscent of Pinot Noir at its earthy best. With only 300 cases made, good luck finding it, but Zin fans should jump for it despite the inflated price. A
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