Wine Of The Week: Linne Calodo Cherry Red 2020

Fall in love with Zinfandel again with Linne Calodo’s Paso Robles bottle.

Why did we ever stop drinking Zinfandel? Personally, the grape tends to be overly jammy for me, and it’s something I’ve frankly ignored for nearly a decade. But recently I’ve had some delicious Zinfandels recently that have forced me to regret missing out on drinking this still-great grape.

Linne Calodo — a highly notable Paso Robles vineyard — balances out their Zinfandel (68%) with Syrah, Mourvedre, and Tempranillo. The name is a nod to the color of the wine — like fresh-picked black cherries — but also the vineyard that spaces just 2.5 acres in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. 

The wine has a lovely bright red cherry concentration, with redwood, cassis, cinnamon, and star anise rounding out the fruit characteristics. It’s concentrated but elegant, lengthy, and light on its feet — Zinfandel all grown up. $95

Kate Dingwall is a SET-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.