Yet another winner from Gallo’s Signature Series, the 2012 Dry Creek Zinfandel has a smokey countenance, followed by musky earth, steeped blackberries and Italian plums. Tons of intensity on the palate, a bit of char, and unbridled, racy acidity. This isn’t a sweet, heavy Zinfandel, rather it’s endowed with lots of power and punch. The finish is quite long, it lingers on the tongue for well over a minute and ends in tobacco, bay leaf, and black pepper. At 15.5% ABV, this Zin could do with some cellaring. Sample
9.1 Points