Starlite Vineyards 2015, Zinfandel, Alexander Valley

Silky, structured, and deeply flavored, this Zinfandel is made for date night at home or pot roast with a flourish. There’s spice, there’s chocolate, and there’s just enough intrigue to keep you coming back.

Tasting Notes: This garnet-hued Zinfandel opens with inviting aromas of ripe plum, black cherry, raspberry, and dark chocolate, lifted by hints of clove and white pepper. On the palate, it’s full and luscious, with velvety tannins and rich flavors of cocoa, vanilla spice, and subtle oak. The texture is smooth and layered, offering both bold fruit and elegant restraint. A complex and satisfying wine with a long, flavorful finish.

Varietal: Zinfandel

History of Estate: The Starlite Vineyards winery is located in the Alexander Valley in California’s Sonoma County. They make hand-crafted European-style wines, and acquired their property in 2001 before launching the winery in 2003 with a “Claret Style” Zinfandel. The wines expanded to include a “Condrieu Style” Viognier and “Bordeaux Style” Cabernet Sauvignon in 2007. Their 6 acres of vineyards are planted on a hilltop to maximize fruit ripening, and are planted 6 feet apart (row to row) and 2.5 feet apart (vine to vine) making them amongst the most densely planted vineyards in California. It is the condensed planting of their vineyards that produce the intensity in flavors and colors.