A few weeks ago, Dry and I tried out a wine that pleased both our palates, which doesn’t always happen. Even our names, Sweet and Dry, are complete opposites in the world of wine. But what’s even more surprising is that the wine we liked rings in for just 12 dollars! So for everyone out there looking for an inexpensive, good wine: This one’s for you.

Zinfandel, the quintessential American grape, has no old-world standard to compare itself to. Therefore, it can become whatever it wants and American (mainly Californian) viticulturists can establish a new standard of Zin. Recently, Zin has been planted in other parts of the world as well. This wine is 100 percent Zinfandel grape and 14.4 percent alcohol. It is aged in French oak for 14 months.

We received this wine free for review. The 2006 Z-52 Zin hails from Lodi in the central valley. It has a pretty ruby color, and smelled of berries and brambles. We detected blackberries and other berries mixed in with a wildness in the subtle aroma.

It was very light, a little peppery at the end and had very soft tannins. It was a very, very pleasant, easy-drinker and worth every penny. I decided it was a “girly” zin, an uncomplicated, soft picnic drink that would likely appeal to a lot of people.

We didn’t pair it with any food but imagine it would go well with a variety of dishes, especially grilled meats (as long as they aren’t too heavy), hearty vegetables, cheese and crackers, or with a picnic. Buy now for gifts, parties or yourself.