Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Cortina 2008

This simple Zin is filled with blackberries and black pepper jam. Itrsquo;s a juicy red, the dark berry and plum-into-prune flavors held within a tannic grip. Give it air, then pour it with a steak.

Consistently fashioning top-flight Zinfandels from their old vineyards, Seghesiorsquo;s 1999s are among the starts of the vintage. One of the best buys is the 1999 Zinfandel Sonoma (14.5% alcohol). An excellent dark ruby/purple color is followed by tangy, classic briery, berry, and cherry fruit mixed with pepper, spice, and earth. It is a polished, yet flavorful wine to enjoy over the next 3ndash;4 years.

Bold aromas of briary wild berry and cracked pepper lead to plush and layered black raspberry, toasty sage and espresso flavors that finish with zesty tannins. Drink now through 2016.

Combines spicy, lush, black fruit from Alexander Valley with cooler Dry Creek Valley fruit that provides structure, as well as Zinfandelrsquo;s classic briary and raspberry flavors.

This is like a gangly teenager, young and a bit inelegant but charming. Shows robust black cherry and spice aromas and blackberry jam and licorice flavors. The tannins firm up the finish. Drink now through 2012.

This seductive and vigorous zinfandel offers smoky black cherry and blueberry aromas that lead to youthful wild berry, sage and cracked pepper flavors, with a lingering finish and zesty tannins. Drink now through 2012.

Briary and zesty, with dried sage and wild berry aromas and tightly would cracked pepper, dried cherry and licorice flavors that finish with slightly rustic tannins. Best from 2011 through 2014.