This lavishly oaked, opaque Zinfandel sports a dense nose of blackberry with pronounced toasty and menthol shadings. The mouthfeel is full and smooth, there’s dark fruit and plenty of espresso, bitter chocolate and tar on the palate and finish, with tannins to lose on the back end. The wine may open up and the fruit ascend more in a year; lovers of heavy toast can eagerly drink it up now.——W.E.(3/1/2001)—— 85