Finally! A Lodi Zin I can really get behind! This was very, very good. Did not have the muddled, undefined, flabby fruit I get out of lots of Lodi Zins. This is purportedly from 100+ year-old vines grown in the Mokelumne River sector of Lodi (which is said to have the best -- which for wines means "worst" --soil for wines). This wine had seamlessly intense, mouthcoating fruit, but was not heavy or ponderous at all.Deep purple ruby. Intensely fruity nose of tangy blackberry and plum (hint of rhubarb too) along with sweet, dry gravel scents. Intense flavors attack the palate with dense cherry cough syrup fruit accented with a chalky earthiness. Good acidity for a wine this ripe, and a long, pure finish with copious but soft tannin. Not as elegant and seamless as Dry Creek, or as pure and razor-sharp as the best Paso Robles Zins, but very good in a unique style. B+. Was just under $17 at Spec's on Smith.
(Sorry, 2007 shown).