Alderbrook

** 91 points ALDERBROOK 2002 RESERVE ZINFANDEL, Dry Creek Valley

** 91 ALDERBROOK Reserve Dry Creek Valley 2002.

Creamy oak lifts and enriches highly ripened blackberry fruit in both the aromas and flavors of this very outgoing effort, and the wine shows a sense of depth and careful balance that makes it far more than just another exercise in simple-minded ripeness. If trimmed with a bit of heat and a little too rich for service with red-sauced pastas, this one will serve famously with barbecued meats in tangy sauces. $34.00

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine rates outstanding wines with one (*), two (**) or three (***) stars. Two-star wines are considered “highly distinctive [and] likely to be memorable.”