2021 Frogs Leap Zinfandel Napa Valley

94 Points from Wine Enthusiast, and one of California's most classic styles from its most famed producer of said style. From dry-farmed, organically grown vines in Rutherford and St. Helena, the 2021 Frog’s Leap Zinfandel reminds you why this winery is one of Napa’s most quietly brilliant traditionalists. While others chase extraction and 15% alcohol fireworks, Frog’s Leap has always played the long game: balance, transparency, graceful power. Zin lovers the world 'round would say: game recognizes game.

Founded in 1981 by John Williams (no relation to the composer—though the wines rock just as hard), Frog’s Leap became one of the first Napa estates to farm organically, dry-farm without irrigation, and harvest for freshness rather than ripeness. Decades later, that philosophy feels almost radical again.

In 2021, a beautifully moderate growing season allowed the estate’s old-vine Zinfandel—interplanted with Petite Sirah and Carignane in classic field-blend style—to ripen slowly and evenly. The result is a wine that walks the line between classic and contemporary: energetic, aromatic, and unmistakably Napa, yet with the lift and nerve of a cool-climate red.

The color is a deep ruby that shimmers rather than gloats. On the nose: black cherry, wild raspberry, plum skin, cedar, white pepper, and sweet sage. A hint of tobacco leaf and dusty Rutherford earth grounds it.

The palate is alive with cranberry, boysenberry, blood orange zest, and cocoa nib, framed by silky tannins and bright acidity. The Petite Sirah adds muscle; the Carignane keeps it honest. It’s medium-bodied, perfectly proportioned, and finishes with a savory snap that keeps you reaching for another glass.

Forget everything you think you know about “big Napa Zin.” This is the thinking drinker’s Zinfandel—vibrant, food-friendly, and built to age gracefully for 8–10 years. It’s also one of the most under-priced red wines in the valley, given its pedigree and precision.