The 2018 Zinfandel Aida Estate is a blend of 88% Zinfandel and 12% Petite Sirah. Displaying a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it comes prancing out of the glass with opulent scents of baked plums, kirsch, raspberry pie and dried mulberries with hints of fruitcake, prunes, hoisin and spice box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is coated with spicy red and black fruit preserves plus a lively backbone and chewy tannins, finishing savory.

Made up of 88% Zinfandel and 12% Petite Sirah, the 2017 Zinfandel Aida Estate is deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of fruitcake, plum pudding and mincemeat pie with lifted raspberry preserves and wild sage plus hints of earth and tobacco. The full-bodied palate is concentrated, firm and chewy with great fruit expression and a fragrant finish.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Zinfandel Aida Estate is a little youthfully reticent to begin, opening out to reveal bags of preserved black cherries, dried mulberries, prunes and chocolate mint suggestions with nuances of kirsch, spice box, underbrush and tilled soil plus a waft of rose hip tea. Full-bodied and boldly fruited in the mouth, it has a firm frame of plush tannins and fantastic freshness lifting the seductive spiced berry preserves layers to a long, earth-laced finish.

Very deep garnet-black colored, the 2015 Zinfandel Aida Estate features plenty of black and blue fruits with a plum preserves undercurrent and hints of baking spices and mocha. Full-bodied and bursting with spicy goodness, it has a nice chewy backbone and just enough freshness, finishing on a compelling earthy note. 297 cases were made.

The 2014 Zinfandel Aida Estate (2014 is a somewhat better vintage for Zinfandel than 2013) from 40-year-old vines, comes across like a French Rh?ne Valley Chateauneuf du Pape. Loads of lavender, Proven?al herbs, pepper, blackcurrants and black cherries soar from the glass of this dense, purple wine, which is a blend of 88% Zinfandel and 12% Petite Sirah from the rocky soils of the Aida estate. It is deep, full-bodied and aged 20 months in 500-liter French puncheons. This is a fabulous Zinfandel and one of the finest I tasted in what is a strong vintage for Zinfandel. Unfortunately, only about 300 cases were made.