Klinker Brick Brickmason (75cl, 14.9%)

A Lodi, California red blend from Klinker Brick Winery, built on 80% old vine Zinfandel and bottled at 14.9% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The blend is selected from 16 Zinfandel sets, with Costa Zinfandel and Burney Mettler blended equally, then 10% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petite Sirah added. It spends 16 months in American oak barrels. The 2020 vintage earned 90 points from Wine Review Online critic Norm Roby, and the 2016 vintage took Gold Medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the Texas International Wine Competition. The nose shows concentrated blackberry and boysenberry, with clove, cracked pepper and vanilla cream. The palate is rich and fruit-forward, with blackberry jam, baked cherry, black currant, allspice and firm tannins. The finish is soft and velvety, with a spicy, dry fade and licorice and dark fruit.