2023 Michael Pozzan Zinfandel Back Barn Oakville Napa Valley 750 ml

Oakville is some of the most prestigious Cabernet-growing land in the world. You’d have to be absolutely certifiable to grow Zinfandel in its high-dollar dirt.

Yet a few passionate growers and winemakers make Zin from the area—and most of those carry a hefty price-tag to defray the opportunity cost. Michael Pozzan’s blockbuster 2023 Black Barn Zin is an exception to the rule. Sourced from an under-the-radar vineyard with $400+ sites like Opus One, Cardinale, and To Kalon as neighbors, this has the lush, expressive fruit that Oakville's known for—but it’s Zinfandel, with spices galore and a silky texture that begs for another sip. 

Operated by Michael Pozzan, his wife MaryAnn, and their two sons, Michael Pozzan Winery is a family affair. But their secret weapon is consulting winemaker Molly Lippitt Lyman, who has worked alongside such luminaries as Philippe Melka and Heidi Barrett and at estates like Duckhorn, Paradigm, and Moone-Tsai.

Savvy Wine Access members know that Michael Pozzan routinely bottles California succulence and vibrancy for way below the going rate. That’s why one fan’s five-star review called Pozzan wines “an automatic case buy” and another promised to “make this my house Red next time it becomes available.” That’s because our last allocation sold out. 

In a Napa Vintage declared “Once in a Lifetime” by The Wine Independent, Molly turned out an absolutely classic Oakville Zinfandel, with dark plums accompanied by lilac and violet, accented by cardamom, cinnamon, and a hint of tobacco. The wine is pure silk on the palate, with a long, soft finish. It begs for another sip, and then another, until you’ve emptied the bottle in a hurry—just like we did.