Rodney Strong Knotty Vines 2005 Zinfandel

opened this bottle of zinfandel to enjoy as a nightcap. rodney strong is always a reliable winemaker, and this zin is no exception. the nose was blueberry, black cherry and pepper notes. the taste is big, jammy, slightly chewy and complex. at first taste the wine was a bit tight, but it opened up nicely as i let it sit. cherry flavors followed by pepper notes. then i got anise, and as the wine continued to open up i got a really nice dark chocolate flavor. on a second day the wine opened up even more and the anise flavor was more prevalent. the wine was even more complex with bigger fruit flavors. this was well balanced with medium tannins and a very nice, long finish. this wine could easily lay for a few more years. sells for about $20 and is well worth the price.