"Amador(County) long has been celebrated largely for bruiser zinfandels - saturated color, ripe fruit flavors, high alcohol - but most of those we tasted and liked were lighter, brighter and more refreshing, but without sacrificing the varietal's raspberry and blackberry highlights. They showed that Zinfandel doesn't have to be inky to be characteristically fruity, and that the varietal can be balanced, spirited and even elegant. Here are some of the better buys we found: The Amador Foothill Winery 2004 Shenandoah Valley Esola Vineyard Zinfandel ($17) has 15% alcohol, but don't hold that against it. The Esola was the most impressive and complex zinfandel we tasted all day, as well as the best buy." Mike Dunne, Sacramento Bee online blog, October 8, 2007