Blended with 22% Petite Sirah, the 2022 Zinfandel Cedarman hails from Rattlesnake Ridge and Dragon Vineyards high atop Howell Mountain. Medium to deep ruby in the glass, the nose combines extremely ripe black fruits and loamy earth with botanical, herbal notes that meld with floral top notes after time in the glass. The palate follows the fruit-laden foreshadowing of the nose with massive saturation and intensity and transiting to a chewy, sinewy finish lined with juicy acidity nestled into a long, detailed finish. Lovers of a sumptuous style will find much to love upon release, although a few years in the cellar could provide an additional layer of nuance.

Keenly structured and appealingly briary, this Zin is loaded with jammy blackberry, roasted anise and licorice flavors that build toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2032.

The 2022 Zinfandel Cedarman is stellar. Dark and imposing, the 2022 possesses tremendous intensity and plenty of Howell Mountain structure. Black fruit, licorice, incense, graphite, tobacco and dried herbs build, filling out the layers. Dense and resonant, this is seriously impressive.