5 | Wine | Zinfandel, 91 to 95

"An excellent wine from a challenging vintage, with aromas of black cherry and spice opening to rich wild berry, mineral and toasty sage flavors that wrap around a concentrated core of acidity and tannins."

"A rich and jammy style, but with enough structure and balance to keep this vibrant. Aromas of cherry pie and pepper lead to zesty blackberry and licorice flavors."

"An intensely perfumed bouquet displays dark berry preserves, cherry-cola, vanilla and woodsmoke. Lush, palate-coating blackberry and boysenberry flavors are complicated by notes of licorice and candied violet. Shows very good intensity on the gently tannic finish, which clings with noteworthy tenacity."

"The 2010 Lytton Springs possesses striking aromatics that meld into sweet dark plums and black cherries. The Lytton Springs shows more minerality and verve than the Geyserville, and appears to have handled the heat spikes of the year quite a bit better."

"The 2010 Zinfandel is absolutely beautiful in this vintage. The cold growing season has given the wine an introspective quality that is hugely attractive. Layers of fruit gradually emerge from this racy yet reserved wine. The 2010 is graced with exquisite balance and class, with less in your face opulence than the 2009. This is a very promising wine."

"Carignan, possesses a deep ruby/purple color and good acidity, and a more closed style than the Geyserville, with a firmer, more restrained overall personality." 91-93 pts Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Glass-staining ruby. Sexy aromas of candied dark berries, dried flowers, incense and cola. Broad, expansive and sweet, offering lush blackcurrant and mulberry flavors and an exotic note of candied rose. Shows noteworthy depth but has impressive energy as well, finishing with strong spiciness and mineral cut. There's a lot going on here already. About two-thirds of the vines are over a century old, according to Officer. The alcohol level here is 15.5% but I don't detect any excess heat."

"Glass-staining purple. High-pitched aromas of black raspberry, cherry-cola, allspice and lavender, with a smoky topnote. Offers an array of intense black and blue fruit flavor, along with a suave gingerbread nuance. Bright and spicy on the finish, which leaves a sweet floral pastille note behind. All of the fruit that would normally make up the Carlise Vineyard and Montafi Ranch bottlings was blended to make this wine." -Stephen Tanzer