Field Recordings "Loomis No. 1" Paso Robles Zinfandel 2018

Vin Chicago: 90 Points

(10/2024) A fascinating wine that immediately upon opening had almost EVERYBODY at a recent blind tasting thinking Italian. Be that the slightly dried Ripasso/Amarone wine character from the Veneto, or the Zinfandel of Italy: Primitivo from the roasty south's Puglia. But, it's own-rooted 33-year-old, 100% Zinfandel vines from a single-vineyard in Paso Robles, which provides the juice here - aged in mostly new French and American oak barriques. The dried-fruit characteristics are forefront, dried red plum, steeped black cherry, sweet dried herbs and spices with cigar box and very good acidity culminate on a wine that feels more indulgent than its 13.9% ABV. Scores for its distinctiveness, a different kind of Zin - for drinking now!