Predator Old Vine Zinfandel 2011

Don't let the puny aroma or light ruby color of this wine fool you. As soon as I took a sip, I had to go scrounging in the refrigerator for something I could turn into a bold, rich, saucy dish to hold up to the meaty taste. Luckily, I had some left over roast that I was able to transform with the help of some Masterpiece BBQ sauce. Perfect pairing!

It's from Lodi, California, of course... all really good Zins are! The award-winning Rutherford Ranch Winery is located on the Silverado Trail and has a portfolio of seven labels, all from sustainable vineyards. The ladybug logo of the Predator label represents the natural predation method of using the vine-friendly ladybugs for insect control. 

It started off with a mild aroma that made me think of having a cup of coffee in a pine forest right after a rain. The flavor of full-on spicy and smoked meat coming to a peppery fruit finish makes it a perfect fit for summer grilling and complimentary to any marinade or BBQ sauce. Save your white wine for poolside... this is the wine you want next to the ribs and brisket.