Sobon Estate Rocky Top Zinfandel

Pepper and plum scents meld with this wine’s zinny florals. It has a light tannic backbone to support the superripe grape flavors, delicious with grilled fennel sausages over pasta.

The official alcohol and residual sugar numbers suggest a dry wine, but the wine tastes hot and sweet, almost Porty, with baked fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries, currants and pepper. Will appeal to those who like this big, jammy style of Zinfandel.

If you ask a Wine Associate at Premier for a recommendation for a good Zin, in any price range, invariably you will be led straight to the Sobons. While each bottling is a superb example of the Amador County style of Zinfandel, my personal favorite is the Rocky Top. Not as spicy or sweet as the Fiddletown, not as restrained as the Cougar Hill, this wine is bold and rich, with densely layered blackberry, dark cherry and cacao notes. Blended with small amounts of Petite Sirah, Carignan and Barbera to add complexity, it pairs beautifully with any roasted or grilled red meat dish.