Alexander Hamilton was never president. But he was a splendid U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, an accomplishment forever memorialized with his portrait on the $10 bill.

You don’t have to wait for Presidents Day or any other national holiday to enjoy Dry Creek Federalist Zinfandel 2011 from Terlato Wines, which has Hamilton on the label.

The folks at Terlato sent us a bottle to try for ourselves. Rooted in American soil, Federalist Zinfandel hales from California’s Russian River Valley, a microclimate bathed in afternoon sun, dried in cool night air and refreshed with morning fog.

Hamilton took a big bite out of life, from his birth in the Caribbean, to his rise in the American Revolution and his stunning achievement establishing a monetary system in a fledgling nation.

Like a big Zin, Hamilton was a man of bold flavors. He had a notorious affair, which he publicly confessed after being blackmailed. He died in a duel, shot by Aaron Burr, the would-be president who Hamilton helped to foil.

Back to the wine. We tested it with filet mignon, a classic pairing for a hearty red. The Fed was a great match, with lush notes of plum, bright cherry and tones of licorice and cinnamon. Expect a smooth, round mouthfeel that tastes expensive. Expect to pay about $24 a bottle.