Zinfandel is a very underrated grape. I sorry you are embarrassed by it Adam: "On behalf of my entire race I opollogize for the Zinfindel/Primitivo grape. Gaccccck! Except for that delightful Ravenwood wine, but maybe that is only the cool label talking" Adam Balic. Yes, white zinfandel helped to give the grape a bad name but there are some very wonderful zin's out there. A small boutique producer in the Russian River Valley called A. Rafanelli is outstanding at $22 a bottle. IT's thick and lush with lot's of pepper and big black fruit upfront and a smooth long finish. IT's hard to come by as most of the 12,000 bottles produced go to the mailing list folks who line up for hours at the vineyard on release day to get their 2 cases. The rest goes to select restaurants that the winemaker has eaten at and appreciates the food. Esty Street in Park Ridge, NJ carries it and while Rafanelli hasn't eaten there the owners have a very reliable source. Other Zins worth trying include Seghesio Old Vines, St. Francis, Ridge, most labels but especially the Pegani Ranch (the late harvest a few years back was the Wine Spectator's wine of the year), and Dry Creek to name a few. I do agree with you that Ravenswood makes a very drinkable Zin in the Vinter's Blend. You might, however, want to venture out and plop down the $24 bucks for a bottle of the Ravenswood Mendocino Zinfandel. A far superior wine with a lot of depth and layers of flavor. A complex wine that goes well with red meat, lamb as well as pork. It is also great to drink on its own.