87 points??!

That’s not usually a good look for a wine. Not terrible, but not great. It certainly doesn’t usually make for an enticing opening to an offer.

But here us out…

From the Wine Enthusiast review: “Very ripe, rich and almost syrupy, this full flavored wine has dried fruit flavors like raisins and prunes, a soft broad mouthfeel and very full body”.

They got some of that right, and some dead wrong. Three of us tasted this earlier this week and found NO sign of raisin or prunes. We DID find plenty of electrified raspberry jam and ripe cherry pie. It DID have a full body and soft mouthfeel but did not seemat all syrupy.

It certainly has the right pedigree for world class Zinfandel, too. Hailing from a historic site in Contra Costa county, this vineyard has been in the Del Barba family for four generations. These old vines, many planted in 1910, make for some righteous juice packed with power and complexity. Fermented in concrete tanks with wild yeasts and then raised in neutral oak barrels, the focus centers almost entirely on the sensational old vine fruit. No heavy oak or anything like that. Up front it’s all about the red cherry pie and jammy raspberry tucked in right behind. The savory baking spice, subtle smokiness and touch of savory herbs all fall in line behind the fruit.

When you get a taste of this it’s gonna be like the Poseidon Adventure because you are gonna be turning it upside down and flooding your glass with this goodness. Seriously.

90 Points - Dan Dawson

“Tiny Napa producer Wilson Foreigner acquires old-vine Zinfandel from the town of Oakley and the sandy soils of the Sacramento Delta. Dark strawberry and blueberry compote, fried cinnamon, black pepper and anise smells and flavors are generous. It’s rich, balanced and goes down smooth and silky. Medium acidity, gentle tannins. This young Zin is ready to enjoy either with food or on its own. You get a lot for your $ here. Wilson Foreigner is a two-family-owned winery. David & Christine Wilson live on their family vineyard in Napa’s Wooden Valley. Chris and Suzaan Alheit live and work in South Africa. They follow the “New California Wine” model of unique grapes, mindful vineyard practices and non-intervention winemaking. All of which lead to wines that are intense, energetic and decidedly unique. All that and very fairly priced, too. Get some.”