Martinelli: Giuseppe & Luisa

The dense plum/purple color is accompanied by a glorious perfume of jammy blackberry and cassis fruit, an unctuous, opulent texture, high glycerin (17% alcohol), and a dry, long, dense, pure finish. This is a stunning, flamboyant 2019 Zinfandel elixir to drink over the next 6-10 years.

Score: 95

Grgich Hills Estate Zinfandel

Baroque in the best sense, this 2016 Zinfandel has a dense mix of herbaceous and fruit forward aromatics of berry preserve, dried orange peel and candied mandarin. On the palate, a complexity of dark fruit, licorice, berry, mint, oregano and applewood smoked bacon abound. The long finish is tied together beautifully by fresh acidity and well-integrated oak notes.

Score: 85

Ridge Vineyards: Lytton Spring

The 2018 Lytton Springs is a blend of 72% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane and 2% Mataro. The nose is lush and open, with aromas of aniseed, red and blueberries, blood orange and earth plus touches of tobacco leaf and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate combines intense, powerful flavors with a more ethereal, silty structure, and it finishes with loads of juicy layers. It's stunning straight from the bottle but will have more to give with time in the cellar.

Score: 94