The 2017 Zinfandel Oakley Road Vineyard comes from own-rooted, head-pruned, 117-year-old vines grown in sandy soils. It was harvested August 30 and aged in 30% new French oak. Medium ruby-purple, it has aromas of stone-fruit salad, pipe tobacco, black cherries, earth, dried leaves, chargrill and a red berry core. Medium-bodied, it offers intense, earth-laced fruits, a firmer, grainy frame and great freshness to lift the long finish. This combines restraint with power and merits another couple of years in bottle.

Refined, svelte and well-built, with elegantly layered black raspberry, zesty jalapeño and licorice flavors that finish with refined tannins. Drink now through 2026.

The 2017 Zinfandel Oakley Road Vineyard handled the rigors of the growing season with more success than the Mataro. Floral notes add lift to the red stone fruit Zinfandel flavors. Silky, aromatically open and inviting, the 2017 has a lot to offer. I would prefer to drink it over the near and medium term.