Brambly boysenberry, whole peppercorn, tart red plum. Farmstand strawberry, bougainvillea, muddled sour cherry. A simultaneously wild yet elegant cascade of elderberry, goji, cranberry, and pomegranate highlights a delightfully spunky and spicy fruit core awash with complicating impressions of dried pine needle, tobacco leaf, and dusty earth. Integrated notes of briar, overgrowth, cedar, and mint advance a parade of complex natural tones while hints of coriander, cumin, and red pepper flakes provide playful pinches of spice. Subtle wafts of wildflowers and rose contribute clean and pretty floral tones while suggestions of parched earth and graham cracker expose interesting reflections of terroir. Incredibly bright, fresh, and feminine on the palate while managing exceptional subtlety and restraint; exhibiting unmistakable authenticity and old-vine sensibility presented with tremendous balance and finesse. Medium plus in body with soft silky tannin backed by moderate acidity. This 2018 Falleri Vineyard Zinfandel by Robert Baile Vineyards is an outstandingly vibrant, captivating, and nuanced red from Napa Valley.

Though Napa Valley is now dominated by picturesque vineyards full of perfectly-spaced and manicured vine rows, this legendary region was once home to significant acreage of quirkily hand-planted and head trained vines. This bottling, crafted by Robert Biale Vineyards using Zinfandel sourced from the Falleri Vineyard in Calistoga, provides an incredibly complex and compelling glimpse into a vineyard from Napa's past. Coming from a small yet characterful bunch of vines planted during prohibition in 1924, this wine exudes elegant yet exhilarating berry-led fruit complicated by wonderful brambly tones, dusty earth, and spice. It is surprisingly delicate and soft on the palate while remaining quite flavorful and fiesty; admirably embodying the rugged and adventurous spirit of Napa viticultural pioneers that planted wine grapes many generations ago. This is distinctive and downright delicious.