TASTING NOTES:
Bright purple. Highly expressive aromas of mineral-tinged dark berry preserves, incense and candied licorice are complicated by a sexy floral nuance. Smoky and seamless in texture, offering alluringly sweet black and blue fruit, spicecake and floral pastille flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes with outstanding clarity, mounting tannins and floral-dominated tenacity, leaving blue fruit and exotic spice notes behind.
- Vinous, 96 pts
The 2017 Problem Child is made up of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 5% Carignan and 5% Graciano. Deep ruby-purple, it explodes on the nose to aromas of blackberry and boysenberry pie, wildflowers, plums, cinnamon and aniseed with loads of underlying nuances. The palate is medium to full-bodied and fully fruited with a spicy streak. The frame is incredibly juicy and finely grained, and it finishes long and layered. Yum!
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 pts
The Zinfandel-dominated 2017 Problem Child (there's 19% Syrah, 14% Graciano, and 3% Carignan) has a classic Zinfandel nose of spice red and black fruits, brambly herbs, cigar tobacco, and Asian spices. Ripe, full-bodied, and incredibly polished, it has sweet tannins, no hard edges, lots of richness and depth, and a great finish.
- Jeb Dunnuck, 94 pts
Supple and richly structured, with bold and expressive raspberry, dried cherry and licorice flavors that linger toward polished tannins. Zinfandel, Syrah, Graciano and Carignane. Drink now through 2027.
- Wine Spectator, 93 pts
