Jeff Runquist Z Massoni Ranch Zinfandel California 2023

The wine has a ruby purple color of solid depth with youthful garnet hues that carry a suggestion of magenta. The aroma of this wine has moved from the red fruits to those of boysenberry, black raspberry, and olallieberry.  The focus is on concentrated ripe succulent fruit. There is not much in the way of terroir, no earthen flavors of the soil. Aging in small oak barrels for almost a year has provided this wine with a bouquet of hazelnut, sandalwood, and almond paste. Upon pouring, the bouquet cedes centerstage to the aroma, but with time in the glass the bouquet fulfills its role.  On the palate juicy flavors of creamy red raspberries, and toasted oak are accompanied by notes of caramel that are delivered by wine with a luxuriously soft texture. The fruit  carries all the way through the finish with a wonderful tension between the fruit and toasty oak that lingers well after the wine is gone.