The Sonoma Grove Zinfandel 2022 is a wine I found at Trader Joe’s, selling for $7.99. It is wine from the Navigator Wine Collection, which, up until recently, was known as Precision Wine Company. They have made many wines for Costco and Trader Joe’s.
The Story
The label says the grapes are sourced from Sonoma County. Zinfandel grapes were first planted in the area in the late 1800s. While no definitive location is mentioned, the Sonoma Valley, Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander AVAs are the prime Zinfandel-growing locations.
The Zinfandel grape is unusual in that the grapes in a bunch do not ripen at the same time. A single bunch can have yet to ripen grapes, too ripe grapes, and grapes beginning to rot. The result is a rich, spicy wine that can challenge the winemaker.
The Sonoma Grove Zinfandel 2022 has a bit of aging, released in the winter of 2025, not often seen in a $7.99 wine. Time is money and time to fully develop is often only reserved for more expensive wine.
There has been a major slowdown in California wine sales in the last couple of years. This could well be a wine that was looking for an outlet.
Sonoma Zinfandel wine tends to be elegant, and Lodi Zinfandel is seen as juicy and spicy.
The alcohol content is 14.5%.
The Sonoma Grove Zinfandel 2022 Tasting Notes
The color is an almost opaque strawberry jam red. The nose is dark berries and spice, black pepper, raspberry, a hint of mocha, and a lightly floral edge. The Sonoma Grove Zinfandel 2022
This Zinfandel tastes like blackberry, black coffee, plum, and a hint of spice. Then milk chocolate, a slight pull from the tannins, and tart cranberry.
This Zinfandel has balanced acidity.
The Summary
- The price is right ($7.99) for the Sonoma Grove Zinfandel 2022
- This is a tasty, interesting, easy-to-drink Zinfandel.
- Maybe more of a sipping wine than a food wine, but it would do well with comfort food.
