Decoy, Zinfandel, 2022

This is a superb Zinfandel that comes from the best collection of multiple-sourced vineyards in California. A testament to expert vineyard relationships and winemaking know-how, it is made by the Duckhorn team and it is one of the happiest and most joyous reds we've come across recently. Full of easy charm and soft, smooth, velvety richness, it really is a wine hat you'll be glad to encounter. 

A concentrated nose packed full of blueberries, bramble fruits, plums and damsons all laced with vanilla and notes of pepper. The palate delivers plush ripe tannins and flavours that mirror the nose. It has a lovely long finish that shows power and fully ripe, sweet fruits.

It's brilliant.

These Zinfandel vines are grown across California and are grown in a combination of the Decoy and Duckhorn wineries' own vineyards and vineyards that they have worked with since 1985, which allows them great control and consistency. This is pretty much a CV for one of the best Californian Zinfandels you can hope for; which makes this pretty fantastic value for money to boot.

Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 30% new and 70% neutral - combining old barrels and some newer, untoasted barrels.

Decoy was established in 1985 as a sort of second label to the Duckhorn winery. Its following allowed the brand to grow and develop in to land purchases and eventually the creation of its own winery as a stand alone project in 2008. The range of wines made by Decoy certainly has its origins in the Duckhorn winery, following the classic varietals and winemaking philosophies that are there, but there is an elegance and liveliness to these wines that seems to be more vital, held by excellent tension. The other thing that really marks out Decoy is that they operate with fruit from outside Napa - this is a winery that represents the rest of California, in glorious, detailed precision with generosity and charm. This is a range of wines that is a most unusual thing in the US: high quality and affordable.

Names don't win prizes, but if they did, I'd give a prize to Dan Duckhorn. A hybrid Beano-Warner Brother's legend, he'd be feared for disrupting mayhem with his trusty fowl-imitation device that would render the culprit unable to continue in their misdemeanour upon hearing its mighty quack. But in truth Dan and Margaret set up their Duckhorn winery in 1976 and two years later released 800 cases each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. From then they have become one of Napa's leading producers, specialising (almost uniquely for the region) as producers of spectacular Merlot. 

91 Points, Wine Enthusiast