Artezin Zinfandel (75cl, 14.5%)

A Mendocino County red wine from Hess Persson Estates, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The blend is 84% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignan, drawn from family-owned, sustainably farmed vineyards along the ridgelines and benchland of the Ukiah Valley. The wine is barrel-aged in mostly French oak. The nose opens with bright pomegranate and boysenberry, followed by blackberry pie crust, resinous herbs and a peppery, briary quality. The palate brings raspberry and red cherry cola, then dried blackberry, black plum and licorice, with fine-grained tannins. The finish is medium-long, with black pepper, vanilla and a savoury, meaty quality.