Right out of the bottle, this Zin’s bouquet is rife with tin-can and weedy-herbal aromas, plus a little pepper; once you’re on your second glass, though, those aromas burn off to reveal oaky dark fruit underneath. In the mouth, oak, metallic and sweet powder cover black berry fruit. Lean with slightly elevated acidity, it finishes with stout berry fruit doused in more tangy oak and metallic notes. Tastes more like a French Syrah than a California Zin. —D.M.——D.T.(3/1/2002)—— 84