This Zinfandel will win over haters with its elegant, spice-driven energy.
Julie Johnson’s vineyards don’t exactly look like the manicured rows of vines that tend to dot the Napa landscape. Instead, hers are spotted with a herd of sheep, a flock of Guinea fowls, bluebirds, hawks, butterflies and all manner of flora and fauna (including Meyer lemon and olive trees).
From her little slice of paradise she produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah with an otherworldly magic. All of her wines are charming, but look for her Rutherford Estate Zinfandel. If you consider all your Zinfandels big and jammy, this will dispel that notion: it’s elegant and spice-driven, with joyous energy. $54
Kate Dingwall is a WSET-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.
