Malagueña Zinfandel Petit Verdot

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate, with a strong and complex nose.

Showing blackberries, black currants, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This Zinfandel based blend from Santa Barbara County is drinking beautifully now, and drinking at its peak. Rich and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and complex.

Delicious right out of the bottle, and feels like an Orin Swift red blend.

I had it 5 years ago, and it is drinking so much better now.

Elegant and good by itself as a sipping wine. Paired beautifully with my steak.

A blend of 77% Zinfandel and 23% Petit Verdot. Bottled in 2019.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.

Artiste Winery Malaguena Non Vintage Santa Barbara County, California

A pretty color of dark ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, red plums, cherries, oak, earth, light vanilla, vegetables, spices and black pepper.

Full bodied and soft with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, dark chocolates, herbs, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very nice Zinfandel blend from Santa Barbara County. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Nicely balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine. Could use a few more years in the bottle to mature properly.

Needs 30 minutes to open up properly and remove some of the acidity.

Tasty, tangy, soft and interesting.

I paired it with Gorgonzola cheese and crackers.

A blend of 77% Zinfandel and 23% Petit Verdot. Non Vintage, bottled in 2019.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$52.

Bold, dry, reasonably balanced. Plums and tobacco are prominent.