The 2006 Zinfandel was sourced from Langhorne Creek. Purple-colored, it presents aromas of briar/bramble, raisins, and blackberry reminiscent of legendary Zinfandels such as the 1977 Lytton Springs. This leads to a full-bodied, smoothly-textured Zinfandel with plenty of ripe, sweet fruit, soft tannins, and a lengthy finish. Drink it over the next 6-8 years. Kangarilla Road, over the past several vintages, has established a track record of turning out high-quality South Australian wines at consumerfriendlyprices. Founded in 1997 by Kevin and Helen O’Brien, andlocated 22 miles south of Adelaide, the estate consists of 30 acres and Kevin O’Brien is winemaker.The Kangarilla Road portfolio contains two Zinfandels, a relative rarity in South Australia.Importer: Click Wine Group, Seattle, WA; www.kangarillaroad.com.au

The 2005 Zinfandel was made from McLaren Vale fruit aged for 18 months in one-year-old French barriques. Dark ruby in color, it is not as sexy as the Langhorne Creek bottling but offers classic Zinfandel aromas of briar/bramble, dried fruits, and blackberry. It is more structured and may benefit from 2-3 years in bottle to more fully evolve. Drink it through 2016. Kangarilla Road, over the past several vintages, has established a track record of turning out high-quality South Australian wines at consumer-friendly prices. Founded in 1997 by Kevin and Helen O’Brien, and located 22 miles south of Adelaide, the estate consists of 30 acres and Kevin O’Brien is winemaker.Importer: Click Wine Group, Seattle, WA; www.kangarillaroad.com.au Also tasted: 2005 Sangiovese (80)

One of my favorite McLaren Vale wineries, Kangarilla Road offers very realistic prices for the quality of their wines. It is tough for Australian Zinfandel to compete with those from California. While some Aussie Zins are very good, prices are generally high, reflecting their rarity Down Under. Kangarilla Road’s very good 2004 Zinfandel Langhorne Creek reveals peppery fig and berry-like fruit, medium body, decent acidity, and a surprising elegance. It is ideal for drinking over the next 2-3 years. Importer: Peter Click, Click Imports, Seattle, WA; tel. (800) 859-0689