Cameron Hughes Zinfandel Lot 867

A second bottle, new observations. Despite its age, this wine expresses a lot of youthful intensity. (I, personally, prefer older Zins.) Bright red, still, to the eye. The white pepper on the nose stuck out for me this time. Really concentrated, jammy fruit (old vines Rutherford Bench). This go-around, the tannins were softening a wee bit, starting to integrate. When I report back a year from now, I expect this wine to be in its sweet-spot —right where I like …

A WOWER! This is a serious Zin that knows when and how to show its playful side. First, there’s an amazing integration of nose, palate, and finish: the wine is fully expressive in all three. Second, the bold fruit (ripe blackberries, black plums) produces a prominent acidity; the perfect amount of oak allows really supple tannins to show through; the interplay between acidity and tannin is what’s particularly enticing. Finally, the fullness of the parts educes a satisfying mouthfeel and …