Retails : $7.99 (Total Wine)

One thing I love about wine stores is the aisle of employee recommendations. It's always filled with a nice mix of tastes, like a party with co-workers. There's always a couple wine snobs -- people who will only recommend expensive bottles of wine--like people who only buy full-price designer clothing. There are always a few recommendations that clearly come from people who don't particularly like wine and are probably more into beer or liquor but are forced to make recommendations. Then there's the wine enthusiast---who appreciates wine but understands that the flavor comes from the wine and not from the price.

Gnarled Vine came into my collection via the fantastic recommendation aisle at Total Wine---and, no, Total Wine does not pay me anything to write (though they should). I haven't experienced many red zinfandels, so I've been trying to expand my understanding and appreciation for this grape.

Zinfandels are not a melange, but an actual grape that supposedly came to America from Croatia and/or the "heel" of Italy's "boot"--there is much debate on this matter. For those of you who love a good wine buzz, Zinfandel is definitely your grape of choice. It can be fermented past normal levels of 15% alcohol by volume due to the grape's high sugar content. This grape's flavor in the finished product is highly influenced by the climate it came from---cooler regions will produce a fruitier flavor, while warmer regions will bring out the grape's peppery flavors.

This particular varietal is grown in California and the berry flavor is by far the dominant essence found in this wine. Unlike other zinfandels, however, it has quite a bit of body. You can truly taste the "grapey-ness," slightly reminiscent of varietals made from muscadine grapes (muscadines are used for wine making here in Florida). There's a nice bit of tannin flavor in the finish that is accentuated with a subtle dryness on the tongue.

Final Words: If you're not a fan of the sugary-sweet flavors of white zinfandel, you'll prefer red zinfandel. This one combines the best of both worlds.