One sip of Black Saint Peter tells you all you need to know: our US specialist, Nick Taylor, has discovered California's classic red style - on tip-top form - at an affordable price. This has all the classic, bright aromas of raspberry and blackberry - followed through on a palate of deliciously, soft ripe fruit that has made Zinfandel the sunshine state's star turn. And when people talk of Californian Zinfandel, Lodi soon dominates the conversation. Between the Sierra foothills and the San Francisco Bay, the region is renowned as the Zinfandel capital of the world, dominated by small production wineries and gnarled old vines. Local supremo Joseph Smith delivers delicious red cherry and bramble flavours with tantalising hints of leather and spice. The name's spot on too. Zinfandel vines, first imported into US in 1820, were known as Black Saint Peters.