For some reason, Zin’s and I have grown apart recently. I used to be a huge fan of young, lush, jammy zinfandels, but am suddenly seeking more balanced wines that mellow well over the evening.

The 2013 Fritz Estate Grown Zinfandel turned me back onto Zin’s in a big way. It’s got the bigness that I loved in Zinfandels, but somehow with a nuanced smoothness that didn’t leave me feeling like my teeth had turned purple.

2013 Fritz Estate Zinfandel

This wine has a solid nose of some kind of dark fruit, like cherry. I loved the dark red, but not purple, color and the texture was just how a great Zinfandel should be, thick and luscious.

The taste was fruity, still cherry or a dark berry like raspberry, and held on through a long finish. There are clearly tannins, but happy tannins that are just there to keep the finish going long after you’ve completed your sip.

I think I’m going to buy a few more bottles and drink them over the next two or three years. This was a delightful wine.