Zinfandel is one of those grape varieties that I fall back on quite regularly for its easy style and approachability. After a long hard week at work, sometimes all you want from a wine is the liquid equivalent of a big warm hug. Zinfandel is believed to be related to Primitivo from southern Italy, which offers similarly sweet dark fruit flavours, but its Californian sibling is far more famous now.
Tonight's bottle is from the Lodi area of California's San Joaquin Valley, where the intense sunshine but cool nights create the optimum conditions for powerful, complex red wines. This example is no exception. Currently reduced in price from £12.99 to £9.69, this red is full of luscious blackberry fruit, notes of chocolate and vanilla, silky smooth and full-bodied yet with a refreshing acidity that makes it a fabulous wine with food. Try it with barbecued ribs, curry, or slow-cooked oxtail stew. Rich and delicious.
Happy Swigging!
