California Zinfandel naysayers complain that the wines are overly jammy and lack structure. But Wine Spectator senior editor Tim Fish says it isn't so. For proof, the Golden State’s 2018 vintage provided excellent growing conditions that resulted in wines showing freshness and bright fruit, with lively acidity and the kind of tannin structure that’s built to age well. Old-vine bottlings from Sonoma County led the pack in quality, but large crops in 2018 and 2018 mean there are plenty of values to discover around the state. Read Tim Fish’s latest Zinfandel tasting report and get his top wines and value picks.
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