Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel 2011

When we went wine tasting in Sonoma County earlier this year, Seghesio Family Vineyards was a recommendation from some friends. Their tasting room is in Healdsburg. We didn't get there this year, but I noticed that Seghesio zinfandel is available by the glass just about everywhere in Healdsburg and Santa Rosa, and it's not hard to find down here in the South Bay either. About a month ago I noticed this bottle at Costco for $20, so I decided to get it to see what all the fuss is about.

As it turns out, this wine is good if big fruity zins are your thing. For $20, it wasn't much of a risk. The color is dark, but not deep dark. It was promising. The nose is really fruity, full of plums, ripe berries, and vanilla. The taste follows through on all of this - it's a fruit bomb. Very bold and full-bodied, and the flavor coats the tongue. This is a good example of this style. It's not subtle. The fruitiness is in-your-face, but it's not at all unpleasant. It went well with homemade pizza.

I've had a number of California zinfandels, and more often than not, they feature the big fruity notes. I like that, and I think the Seghesio avoids falling into so fruity it's jammy, which is just a little too far for me. Compared to other zins that are very similar, $20 is a really good price. If you see it at Costco, or you're in Healdsburg, give them a try.