The 2008 Zinfandel Eastern Exposures shows a little more muscle than some of the other wines in the lineup, but it, too, has modest complexity, structure and varietal character. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. Tel. (707) 942-5310; www.storybookwines.com

A first rate Zinfandel, as rich as they come, brimming with intense mountain fruit flavors of blackberries, black currants and cola, with Zin’s black pepper and a savory taste of grilled Canadian bacon. Lush, smooth and tannic, it’s a beautiful wine to drink now with beef stew or even a coq au vin-style dish. ——S.H.(12/31/2011)—— 91

Normally, the softest wine of the group and the portfolio (a title it retains in 2007) is the 2007 Zinfandel Eastern Exposures. This is a smaller cuvee of just over 500 cases. Elegant berry fruit intermixed with briary notes, loamy soil undertones, pepper and spice are followed by a round, soft, easygoing wine that should drink nicely for the next 4-5 years. One of the most reliable producers of Zinfandel in Napa, proprietor Jerry Seps continues to produce very elegant Zinfandels that lean more toward wines with a Pinot Noir sensibility than many other Zinfandels.Tel. (707) 942-5310; www.storybookwines.com