Killer Zinfandels from Armida Cellars

For a professional wine buyer the Trifecta for a new wine discovery is good wine at a fantastic price in a stop-you-in-your-tracks package. Armida Cellars in Dry Creek has hit just such a home run with the first release of their Poizin Zinfandel California 2011. This Zinfandel (80%) and Petite Verdot (20%) blend sports juicy, jammy plum, bing cherry and spice aromas that jump from the glass and attack the palate with complex layers of opulent fruit, peppercorn spiciness and sweet vanilla oak. Round and rich in texture (though well structured), with a zesty acidity that keeps the flavors bright and lively through the long, lingering finish. Kitchy as hell, you’ll buy it for the package at Halloween, but continue to serve it at Thanksgiving and Christmas for the quality. This premiere release is available in only 15 states outside California so might take a little searching to find. Well worth the effort if you can - market price around $12.99.

For those with more discerning palates Armida also has a Poizin Zinfandel Sonoma bottling in the market. The 2009 is stylistically very similar, but bigger in scale, more firmly structured and overall a much more complex wine. Still a good value at around $18.99.

 

http://www.armida.com/