Dried blackberry, fennel seeds, fig purée. Wild blueberry, smoldering firewood, black currant preserves. Dehydrated dark cherry, fruit leather, and anise liqueur converge boldly with rosemary, whole peppercorn, and bramble in a muscular yet surprisingly cerebral display. Notes of fresh thyme and oregano sustain impressively pronounced herbal character as briar and bougainvillea complement a complex natural bite. Blackened paprika, cinnamon, and cumin emerge to reveal beautifully lifted spice that intersects playfully with a bouquet of wilted roses and fragrant potpourri. An underlying earthy layer of hot asphalt and scorched sand further complicates the scene as black coffee, bitter chocolate, and smoke sternly convey a sense of rugged masculinity. Dark, brooding, and robust yet outstandingly nuanced and filled with subtlety. Full bodied with moderate tannin and acidity. this 2017 Bernier-Sibary Vineyard Zinfandel by Dutcher Crossing Winery is a stout, serious, and savory red from Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley.

For well over a century Zinfandel has arguably been California's flagship grape, and perhaps no appellation is more important for the production this storied variety than Dry Creek Valley. This bottling, crafted by Dutcher Crossing Winery using mostly Zinfandel plus a touch of Petite Sirah/Carignan/Mataro sourced from the Bernier-Sibary Vineyard, wonderfully showcases the hardy, brawny, cowboy-like characteristics that have allowed this unlikely grape variety to flourish. In true Zin fashion this features a cornucopia of ripe, dried, and even stewed fruits that are challenged by terrific herbal, spiced, and earthy notes. It remains wonderfully tart, fresh, and dry on the palate providing enjoyment that stems as much from its complexity as its fruit. This is a splendid example of textbook Zinfandel.