7 Deadly Zins by Michael David Zinfandel

7 Deadly Zins by Michael David Zinfandel is a bold, old vine Lodi Zinfandel-dominant red blend bottled at 15.0% ABV in a 750ml format. The 2018 vintage earned 94 points and a Platinum Medal for "Best Zinfandel" at the Sommelier Challenge Competition, and the wine has consistently scored 90+ points from publications including Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.0%  |  Origin: Lodi, California  |  Old Vine Zinfandel & Petite Sirah Blend  |  Producer: Michael David Winery

Production & Heritage

Michael David Winery is a family-run operation based in Lodi, California — a region increasingly recognized for its concentration of old vine Zinfandel plantings. The grapes for 7 Deadly Zins are sourced from seven distinct old vine vineyards, many tended by family members, neighbors, and longtime friends of the Phillips family who own the winery. Each vineyard lot is fermented separately to preserve its individual character before final blending with a portion of Petite Sirah, which adds structure and depth to the finished wine.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark cherry and ripe raspberry lead the nose, followed by layers of caramel, leather, and wood smoke. Oak spice and a subtle earthy quality emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and round, with jammy blackberry and dark currant fruit immediately coating the palate. Mid-palate, flavors of molasses, chocolate cake, and toffee develop alongside cinnamon spice. A thread of coffee and black raspberry carries through to the peak, supported by the Petite Sirah's tannic backbone.

Finish: Medium-long and velvety, with lingering peppery spice and toasted oak. Dark fruit and a touch of raisin sweetness fade slowly, leaving a warm, smoky impression.

How to Drink 7 Deadly Zins

This wine drinks well at cellar temperature (60–65°F) with no decanting strictly required, though 20–30 minutes of air will soften the tannins and let the secondary spice notes emerge. At 15.0% ABV, it carries significant weight and stands up to bold food or solo sipping.

In cocktails and wine-based drinks, its intensity makes it a natural fit: a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) benefits from the wine's inherent molasses-like sweetness; a red wine sangria loaded with dark stone fruits mirrors and amplifies the jammy profile; and a mulled wine preparation works exceptionally well because the existing cinnamon and clove-like spice notes harmonize with traditional mulling spices.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues featuring smoked ribs, brisket, or tri-tip
• Introducing Zinfandel newcomers to the bold, fruit-forward Lodi style
• Bringing a crowd-pleasing bottle to a casual dinner party
• Pairing with a charcuterie board built around aged cheeses and cured meats

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 7 Deadly Zins taste like? It delivers a rich, jammy core of blackberry, dark cherry, and currant layered with chocolate, toffee, and cinnamon spice. The texture is round and velvety with a warm, smoky finish driven by oak aging and the wine's 15.0% ABV.

How does 7 Deadly Zins compare to OZV Zinfandel? Both are Lodi old vine Zinfandels with bold, dark fruit profiles, and wine drinkers frequently cross-shop them. OZV tends to come in at a lower price point with a similar dark-fruited character, while 7 Deadly Zins leans into more pronounced oak spice, smoke, and a slightly richer mid-palate from its seven-vineyard blending approach.

Is 7 Deadly Zins good for sipping neat? Yes — its full body, layered fruit, and balanced tannins make it a satisfying pour on its own, especially when served slightly below room temperature to keep the alcohol warmth in check.

Where is 7 Deadly Zins made? It is produced by Michael David Winery in Lodi, California, a warm-climate appellation in the northern San Joaquin Valley known for some of the state's oldest Zinfandel vines. The grapes come from seven separate old vine vineyards in the Lodi region.

What foods pair well with 7 Deadly Zins? Smoked brisket or pulled pork matches the wine's wood smoke and dark fruit intensity. Aged cheddar or Gouda complements the toffee and caramel notes. Dark chocolate desserts echo the chocolate-cake character on the mid-palate. Pepperoni or soppressata pizza mirrors the peppery spice on the finish. Lamb burgers with a berry-based glaze bridge the jammy fruit profile.

What sizes does 7 Deadly Zins come in? The standard format is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available size.

Is 7 Deadly Zins worth the price? It positions as a mid-range Zinfandel that consistently punches above its weight in critical scoring — multiple vintages have cleared 90 points from respected competitions and publications. For a wine blending fruit from seven old vine sources with individual lot fermentation, it represents strong value within the Lodi Zinfandel category.

Why 7 Deadly Zins?

The seven-vineyard sourcing model is the defining detail here. Rather than blending a generic regional lot, Michael David Winery ferments each vineyard parcel independently, then assembles the final wine to capture a range of old vine expressions in a single bottle. That approach has been validated by consistent critical recognition — 94 points and a "Best Zinfandel" Platinum Medal at the Sommelier Challenge for the 2018 vintage, 93 points at the Ultimate Wine Challenge for the 2016, and a Gold Medal at the Critics Challenge for the 2020. In a category crowded with competent but interchangeable old vine bottlings, 7 Deadly Zins earns repeat attention because its blending methodology delivers complexity that straightforward single-source Zinfandels rarely match at a comparable price tier.