I opened this bottle last night with friends–popped and poured. The color is still a medium dark red, with slight bricking at the edges. The nose is fairly plummy, along with some blackberry and caramel qualities. The taste follows the nose, with a smooth, rounded mouthfeel. There are still a moderate amount of fine tannins on the finish. After about 30 minutes, the wine picked up steam, and it also added a slight tobacco or herb quality. As is so often the case, the last glass was the best. A great example of an older Zinfandel (80%), and we agreed that it probably was at the perfect state of maturity. A “wow” wine and excellent with the hanger steak.
Bruce