TABLAS CREEK Esprit De Tablas Mourvedre Syrahs Grenache Counoise, Paso Robles

RIDGE VINEYARDS Lytton Springs Zinfandel Petite Syrah Carignan, Sonoma

According to the vibrant crew at Murphy-Goode, they make their wine the way they live their lives. Full of optimism, excitement and a love for life that is unsurpassed. Marry that with the knowledge garnered by co-founder Tim Murphy over 20 years specifically surrounding the Zinfandel grape and you have a blueprint for red wines of the utmost concentration and beauty. The Liar's Dice Zinfandel imparts rich flavours of black cherry and blackberry jam alongside characters of raspberry and redcurrants. Rounded out with super soft tannins and a luscious, fruit-sweet finish.

Sustainably farmed Estate vineyards provide top quality fruit for this premium Californian red. Rich and peppery with hints of juicy raspberry this is the perfect match to succulent roast beef.

From the same vineyard as the Saint Georges Pinot Noir (Besson’s Home Ranch), the Zinfandel vines were apparently planted by an Italian bootlegger in 1922. Rooted in granite and sandy loams, Besson’s ungrafted Zinfandel benefits from morning and afternoon sun, while the unusually fresh marine-moderated night-time temperatures permit full expression and flavour development without requiring exacerbated degrees of alcohol. The yields from these old, well-established, own-rooted vines are meagre, averaging just one tonne per acre. To showcase the grape’s fresher, nuanced, and silkier side, the Birichino boys pick their Zin early, usually between 13 and 13.5% potential alcohol. At the same time, the low-impact winemaking is geared towards balancing the fresh acidity and juicy fruit offered by this unique Santa Cruz vineyard. In 2020, full maturity and equilibrium in the vineyard were reached at 14.5%. So, while it may not be super-typical of the Birichino style, it still remains a mile away from the brawny, hulk-like examples of brand Zinfandel.

RIDGE VINEYARDS Geyserville Zinfandel blend, Alexander Valley

RIDGE VINEYARDS East Bench Zinfandel, Santa Cruz Mountains