Blackberry concentrate, cracked pepper, brandy infused cherry. Candied cranberry, fresh mint, bacon wrapped date. Springtime bramble and exotic spice, sweet violet and heliotrope. Lush dark fruit in the form of fig preserve and warm blueberry sauce poured gracefully over damp tobacco and new wood. Vanillin, clove, and cocoa powder battle with tarragon and dried red chilis atop pecan pie and parched volcanic earth. This 2015 Moon Mountain District Zinfandel by Viansa Sonoma is big, spicy, and sexy high elevation Zin.

Moon Mountain is one of Sonoma County's youngest sub-appellations, but it contains some very old and storied vines. Located just east of the city of Sonoma on the western face of the Mayacamas Mountains, Moon Mountain benefits from many of the same topographical and geological characteristics as Mount Veeder, which sits directly opposite it on the Napa side of the slope. This bottling, crafted by Viansa Sonoma using Zinfandel fruit from Moon Mountain, is a compelling insight into this little-discussed growing region. Ripe, succulent, and dense mountain fruit sets the tone here as gorgeous florals intersect with a slightly wild green edge. Pretty oak makes its presence immediately known adding a distinct barrel-room sheen, and it finishes with a warming peppered sensation like curling up to a crackling fire. Think sultry, sensual, and smooth.