Younger people (under age 45?) say zinfandel is a dark red wine that’s bold, brash, thickly rich, soft, and sweet-ish; that has slightly Port-y aromas and high alcohol content; and that should be sipped immediately after release by itself. Food is optional.
Older people (over age 60?) tell you zinfandel ought to be a medium-weight red wine that’s balanced to go with food and is even better after a couple of years in the bottle.
