Potent but polished, with deep flavors of raspberry and red currant laced with briar patch, pepper and licorice as this gathers tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2035. 1,038 cases made.

The 2022 Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge is dark, somber and mysterious. Inky dark fruit, licorice, lavender, cured meats and grilled herbs abound. There's plenty of mountain tannin, but also enough fruit to keep things in check. The 2022 is going to need time in bottle to come around, but it is both impressive and promising.

The 2022 Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge is a tense, moving target on the nose, traversing myriad aromas of fresh herbs, ripe stone fruits, coconut flakes, meaty dark fruits, aniseed and subtle reduction before settling itself. The palate is medium to full-bodied but relatively restrained and elegant, coming across as lighter on its feet than the nose would suggest. The finish combines soft, fine but grainy tannins with well-rounded, balanced acidity and a long, perfumed finish. Cleary in need of unwinding and further integration, I look forward to checking back on this wine in 3-5 years and over the following decade.