{"title":"Easton Amador","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"easton-amador-zinfandel","title":"Easton Amador Zinfandel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEaston Amador Zinfandel\u003c\/strong\u003e is a 100% Zinfandel from Amador County, California, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2015 vintage earned 92 points from Wine Spectator and landed at #45 on their Top 100 list in 2018 — a strong endorsement for a wine sourced from old, dry-farmed vines in the Sierra Foothills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California  |  100% Zinfandel  |  Winery: Terre Rouge and Easton Wines\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTerre Rouge and Easton Wines was founded by Bill Easton and Jane O'Riordan in Amador County, a region with deep roots in California Zinfandel history. The Amador Zinfandel draws from 20- to 80-year-old head-pruned vines planted across seven to eight mountain vineyard sites on granitic soils. The grapes are organically farmed, dry farmed without irrigation, and hand-harvested — a labor-intensive approach that lets the fruit reflect the warm days and cool nights of the Sierra Foothills rather than relying on manipulated ripeness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wild sage and chaparral lead, followed by brambly red and black fruits — raspberry, blackberry — laced with black pepper and dried herbs. The nose has a distinctly earthy, garrigue-like character that separates it from fruit-forward valley-floor Zinfandels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is rich and plush, with concentrated raspberry and blackberry fruit framed by a lively core of acidity. Mid-palate, flavors of anise, smoked pepper, and cocoa emerge, while firm tannins provide structural grip. Despite its 14.5% ABV and generous body, the wine stays well-balanced rather than jammy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zesty and persistent, with briary raspberry and sweet anise stretching through a long, mineral-tinged close. Stony, granitic minerality lingers alongside traces of white pepper and sage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Easton Amador Zin\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Zinfandel rewards a slight chill — around 60–65°F — and a generous pour into a large-bowled glass to let the aromatic complexity open up. Neat sipping is ideal, though it also works well in food-forward settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor cocktail-adjacent serves: a \u003cstrong\u003eKalimotxo\u003c\/strong\u003e variation plays off the wine's dark berry depth with cola's spice; a classic \u003cstrong\u003eSangria\u003c\/strong\u003e benefits from the peppery, herbal backbone; and a \u003cstrong\u003eNew York Sour\u003c\/strong\u003e — bourbon layered with red wine — gains real complexity from the sage and anise notes in this bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeekend grilling sessions featuring smoked ribs or tri-tip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting a red wine enthusiast who already knows Napa Cabernet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilding out a Sierra Foothills section in a home cellar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDinner parties centered on bold, rustic Italian or Californian cuisine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Easton Amador Zin taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e It delivers concentrated raspberry and blackberry fruit layered with smoked pepper, wild sage, anise, and a hint of cocoa, all held together by firm tannins and bright acidity. The overall impression is big and rich but balanced, not jammy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Easton Amador Zin compare to Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel?\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels tend toward brighter, red-fruited profiles with softer tannins from alluvial soils, while Easton's Amador County bottling leans darker and more tannic, with pronounced sage and pepper notes from its granitic mountain vineyards. Both regions are considered premier California Zinfandel sources, but the Amador expression runs wilder and more rustic in character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Easton Amador Zin good for sipping neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — its layered aromatics and structured tannins reward patient, thoughtful sipping, especially at cellar temperature around 60–65°F with time to breathe in the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Easton Amador Zin made?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is produced by Terre Rouge and Easton Wines in Amador County, located in California's Sierra Foothills, east of Sacramento. The fruit comes from multiple mountain vineyard sites within the county, planted on granitic soils at elevation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Easton Amador Zin?\u003c\/strong\u003e Smoked beef brisket matches the wine's peppery depth; lamb sausage with fennel echoes the anise notes; wood-fired pizza with soppressata brings complementary char and spice; aged cheddar or Manchego highlights the fruit concentration; and grilled portobello mushrooms mirror the earthy, herbal undertones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Easton Amador Zin come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e The standard release is a 750ml bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Easton Amador Zin worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e It positions as a mid-premium Zinfandel that consistently scores 90+ points from major publications, including a Wine Spectator Top 100 placement — strong critical performance for its price tier relative to comparably scored Napa or Sonoma bottlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Easton Amador Zin?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew California Zinfandels carry the kind of site-specific identity this wine delivers. The combination of old head-pruned vines (some approaching 80 years), dry farming on granitic mountain soils, and organic viticulture gives it a textural seriousness and aromatic wildness that most supermarket Zinfandels never approach. Its inclusion in Wine Spectator's Top 100 validates what Sierra Foothills enthusiasts have known for years — that Amador County produces some of the most distinctive Zinfandel in the state. For drinkers tired of overripe, one-dimensional reds, this bottling makes a compelling case for the variety's range and depth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Easton Amador","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44837427478697,"sku":"22472","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/1024\/6313\/files\/Easton-Amador-Zinfandel__46827.jpg?v=1730481875"}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/easton-amador.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}