Wine Of The Week: Linne Calodo Cherry Red 2020
Fall in love with Zinfandel again with Linne Calodo’s Paso Robles bottle.
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Why did we ever stop drinking Zinfandel? Personally, the grape tends to be overly jammy for me, and it’s something I’ve frankly ignored for nearly a decade. But recently I’ve had some delicious Zinfandels recently that have forced me to regret missing out on drinking this still-great grape.
Linne Calodo — a highly notable Paso Robles vineyard — balances out their Zinfandel (68%) with Syrah, Mourvedre, and Tempranillo. The name is a nod to the color of the wine — like fresh-picked black cherries — but also the vineyard that spaces just 2.5 acres in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles.
The wine has a lovely bright red cherry concentration, with redwood, cassis, cinnamon, and star anise rounding out the fruit characteristics. It’s concentrated but elegant, lengthy, and light on its feet — Zinfandel all grown up. $95
Kate Dingwall is a SET-trained sommelier and spirits writer. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Forbes.com, and Food & Wine, and she pours wine at one of Canada’s top restaurants.