Who could argue with this label and the packaging?  This is the second wine I have tried from Armida, and I’m happy to say they both rock my inner Zin.  Weighing in at 14.5 % alcohol, you could be misled into thinking this would be an overripe, jammy, hot Zinfandel.  Wrong….  By a mile.

On the nose, blackberry meets plum with a dose of freshness.  On the palate, blueish berry compote and plum with a faint hint of spice that is characteristic of Zinfandel.  Very balanced and complex, with no hint of the heat, this wine is drinking beautifully right now.  I could not get any tannic structure, but feel like it would last another 3-5 years.  It’s a strange beast, with all the pieces of the the big, jammy, highly laden Zin, yet it fits a completely different mold.  Subdued, a charmer with strength and poise.  This is a great Zinfandel that defies logic and hits it for me on all cylinders.  5 stars, and 92 points.  BTW, I paired it with Moroccan Chicken cooked in a Tagine with apricots, cinnamon, raisins and cumin.  The sweetness of the meal was perfectly balanced by the boldness and acidity of the wine.  PPS.  Before I forget, I tasted this wine as I started cooking dinner and noticed myself salivating after 30 seconds.  It really is that good.