Papera Ranch is one of my favorite vineyards for Zinfandel. Most the vineyard is Zinfandel, there is also some Carignane, Petite Sirah, Valdigue, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trousseau Gris, Mission, several unknowns, and Pinot Noir. This is labelled as a Heritage wine meaning that it is a field blend from an old vineyard. The original plantings in this vineyard go back to 1934. The wine itself is great but it took about thirty minutes or so in a decanter to open up fully. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, a bit of char, spice and a bit of pepper. On the palate, this is a lush yet silky texture. Great acidity to balance the fruit. Light but present tannins. Long finish. This will go great with grilled foods or even spicy ethnic foods. It should drink well for a decade though it may lose some of its youthful exuberance as it changes character with age.
