2009 Zinfandel Wine between $10 and $25

Big, gutsy, quintessential California red that has become famous, ironically, as the basis for the white zinfandel, a blush wine. Red zinfandel has solid red fruit flavors, spicy, warm and alcoholic, often with hints of tar, licorice, and burnt cherries. Definitely not a finesse wine -- traditionally big, tannic, high extract, almost port-like; more recently, rounder and less severe, some emphasizing almost Beaujolais levels of fresh fruit. 99% are from California labeled zinfandel; Italian primitivo may be the same variety.