āA tight and linear red with blackberry and chocolate character. Full body and firm tannins and a flavorful finish. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, malbec, petit verdot, cabernet franc and merlot. Beautiful now but better in 2020.ā
93 Points, James Suckling
Our 2014 Winemakerās Reserve Red Wine is the perfect blend to showcase the deeply concentrated, complex wines of a wonderful vintage. This deep crimson-hued Bordeaux-style blend bursts with expressive aromas of rhubarb, rustic cherry and Christmas spice-cake aromas. Underlying the bright fruits is a subtle smoked meatiness, reminiscent of prosciutto-wrapped fresh figs. On the palate the blend mixes both dark and red berry notes, creating a pleasing mouthfeel with hints of delicate young rose perfume and dusty tannins that dance across your palate on the lengthy finish.
Vintage and Winemaking Notes
Dry, early and shaking is how 2014 will be remembered in Napa Valley, yet it had a silver lining with small, concentrated berries and high quality. Februaryās rains brought the total rainfall from low to adequate and helped relieve three years of drought conditions. Warm temperatures promoted early budbreak and accelerated grape maturation. Just as harvest began, a dramatic 6.0 earthquake shook Napa Valley awake on August 24; Provenance was fortunate to come through unscathed. We finished the very compact, plentiful harvest by mid-October and celebrated the vintageās āripened-to-perfectionā grapes.
Each grape variety was grown in the specific mesoclimate and soils of Napa Valley where it was able to achieve its most outstanding characteristic. A significant portion of the wine was grown on our estate vineyards. The Cabernet Sauvignon came from the St. Helena, Rutherford and Yountville AVAs; Merlot from the Oakville and Los Carneros AVAs; Cabernet Franc from the Calistoga AVA; Malbec from the Mt. Veeder AVA; and Petit Verdot from the Rutherford AVA.
After hand-harvesting the fruit and then hand-sorting it twice at the winery, we gently destemmed the grapes to retain at least 60 percent whole berries. Three days of cold-soaking before fermentation gently extracted the deep purple color and rich varietal flavors from the skins. A portion of the wine was fermented in barrels, with the balance in stainless steel to enhance the plush texture of the wine and integrate fruit and oak character. Following fermentation, extended skin contact, and gentle pressing, the wine completed malolactic fermentation in barrels to round out the acidity. Aging in French oak barrels wove toasty oak tones through the dark-fruit character.
Provenance Vineyards is a leader in the renaissance of Rutherford, Napa Valley winemaking, known for crafting small-lot Bordeaux varietal wines from the unique personalities of Napa Valleyās most renown vineyards. Being a āBordeaux Houseā, our wines are made from the traditional grape varieties originating from Bordeaux, France, which include; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Most of our wines are sourced from our Estate Vineyards in the heart of the Napa Valley in Rutherford.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, December 20th - Wednesday, December 26th
Provenance Vineyards Winemakerās Reserve Red Blend
2 bottles for $79.99 $39.99/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $349.99 $29.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Provenance Vineyards Reserve - $130 = 27.07%
Fun fact: I spent a summer when I was 22 working in the tasting room at Provenance. (And in an unrelated coincidence, my dad is actually the one who named it Provenance, way back when it was created under Chalone)
@novium Tom Rinaldi of Duckhorn fame was the founding winemaker and always considered this his pet project. He still shows up to every one of our events.
@foxrunner@novium Thatās me (wellā¦sort of). I work here but am not the winemaker.
Let me know if you guys have any questions and I will do my best to monitor and answer what I can.
90 Points
This combines all five red Bordeaux varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominant at 48% and Cabernet Franc close behind at 24%. Juicy, approachable and round, it has strong present tannins and an intensity of oak, tobacco and cedar. VB 11/1/18
Any Minnesota folks interested in splitting a case? I have commitments for up to 8. So, need someone to take at least 4 (could part with 6 if necessary).
Thanksgiving week - with its oodles of Pinot Noir- and Chardonnay-friendly Turkey in every form and usual sides - is a tough time to take on a big Bordeaux blend, but someone has to do the tough jobsā¦
So, on Friday last, rpm, SWMBO, and BlndBmb8 (aka daughter #1 who has been tasting forever - we have a picture from her first birthday of her pulling a champagne bottle out of a wine rackā¦) stood to our glasses and modified Davis scoresheets to do our duty for our Casemates.
Our approach was typical: Around midday, I pulled the cork and put an ounce or so into each glass for an initial impression. Based on that, I decanted the rest of the bottle and we let it sit for between an hour and an hour and a half while we engaged in other activities. We then tasted again for score. Then had some with turkey leftovers.
The rest of the bottle sat in the decanter overnight and SWMBO and I had it with turkey leftovers the following evening (BlndBmb8 had already headed home).
Enough with the story, already, I hear you scream, tell us about the wine!
Initial Impression upon opening:
NOTE: these notes/impressions were made without discussion and without reading the label re blend/alcohol contact.
Appearance
rpm clear, not brilliantly clear
SWMBO good, could be clearer
BlndBmb8 no specific note
Color
rpm Characteristic for Cab, medium depth
SWMBO good
BlndBmb8 no specific note
Aroma and Bouquet
rpm hot nose, berries (not specific) and currants, substantial vanillin (āoakyā)
Total Acidity
rpm acid seems a little high
SWMBO ok, good balance
BlndBmb8 sour
Sweetness
rpm bitter
SWMBO too fruity/jammy
BlndBmb8 no specific notee
Body
rpm medium
SWMBO no specific note
BlndBmb8 full, fills the mouth, long finish
Flavor
rpm woody, underlying fruit not differentiated, you can taste the alcohol
SWMBO alcohol dominates
BlndBmb8 fruit becomes overwhelmed by oak and alcohol
Bitterness
rpm bitter
SWMBO no specific note
BlndBmb8 no
Astringency
rpm OK, finish medium
SWMBO probably better in an hour
BlndBmb8 yes (to āis tannin level appropriate?ā)
General Quality
rpm clearly very closed, needs to open Decant!
SWMBO too closed to tell
BlndBmb8 too closed - did not enjoy
OK, now you can see why we decantedā¦
An Hour Later:
For brevity, Iām only noting the changes in evaluation
Aroma and Bouquet
rpm more currant and berry fruit. very (but not over) ripe, still a little hot but much better, less noticable vanillin (oak) - mostly at back
SWMBO good nose/nice fruit balance/nice mustiness,
BlndBmb8 less dominated by alcohol and vanilla, still cherry, currant
Sweetness
rpm now appropriate, not bitter
Body
rpm seems fuller than medium, not really āfullā to me
Flavor
rpm fruit more prominent, berries (undifferentiated) predominate, but some currant. oak much less pronounced on the back of the palate
SWMBO alcohol dissipated after an hour, flavors ātypicalā
BlndBmb8 muting of alcohol and oak food wine
Astringency
rpm finish now medium long, appropriate level of tannin detectable no oak no long dominates.
SWMBO yes, was better an hour later.
General Quality
rpm a solid wine, good Bordeaux blend, definitely a food wine.
BlndBmb8 did not enjoy.
Scoring: rpm was the only one to give a numerical Davis score:
Appearance 1-1/2 (2 possible)
Color 1-1/2 (2 possible)
Aroma and Bouquet 4 (6 possible)
Total acidity 2 (2 possible)
Sweetness 1 (1 possible
Body 1 (1 possible)
Flavor 1-1/2 (2 possible)
Bitterness 1 (1 possible)
Astringency 1 (1 possible)
General quality 1 (2 possible)
----------
Total Score 15-1/2 (20 possible)
Ranges:
Superior: 17-20 (wines above 18 are uncommon)
Standard: 13-16 (most quality wines fall within)
Below
Standard: 9-12 (still sound commercial wine, but not very interesting.
Unacceptable: Below 9 (usually serious flaws or spoiled)
After the wine was decanted and open for an hour, I liked it considerably better than SWMBO or BlndBmb8.
SWMBO generally prefers Pinot Noir to Cabernet and dislikes very big Cabernet/Cabernet blend wines, especially if hot. Likes mature Cabernet made in (e.g.) Corison style or St. Julien or St. Estephe in Bordeaux.
BlndBmb8 likes Cabernet, but prefers a lighter, or better yet, leaner style. Likes Pauillac in Bordeaux.
I thought the wine worked well after 1-1/2 hours with my leftover turkey late lunch.
Even better, after about 30 hours, when I had the rest of the bottle with more turkey leftovers on Saturday evening, the tannins had nicely smoothed and the high alcohol was barely noticeable. Fruit was still very ripe, but it was enjoyable. If you like big wines and you like Cabernet, youāll probably like this.
I think it is imperative to decant this wine; I would give it at least 2, preferably 3 hours in a decanter before serving. Your patience will be rewarded
Would I buy it? Probably not, but then: (1) I have quite a bit of mature and maturing Cabernet/Bordeaux blends (that I know SWMBO and BlndBmb8 will like) in my cellar for drinking at least through 2030 and (2) I rarely drink Cabernet/Bordeaux blends under the age of 10 in any event.
At the case price, this is a decent deal, IMHO for those who want a good, solid Napa Cab/Bordeaux blend to drink with food that needs a full bodied red to stand up to it. With decanting, the flavors are right and it works well with food.
@rpm Thank you for this thoughtful and much-appreciated report. My impressions almost exactly, but far more precisely stated; I genuinely learned from your notes. Cheers.
Sorry Iām a bit late to post this, but better late than never, right?
Got the opportunity to be a lab rat for this one, although I feel a bit out of my league. My girlfriend and I have zero experience writing any kind of wine reviews and very little actual knowledge about wine, we just like drinking it. So letās have some funā¦
Initial impressions
We were unfamiliar with the vineyard, so we went ahead and looked it up on google. Seems to be well liked overall, although there are not too many reviews available for this particular red blend. In general, I do like red blends when theyāre done well to play off different strengths of different varietals. Based on the list price of a bottle this is probably cost prohibitive for me most of the time, so I am glad Iām getting the chance to try one for free. My interest is piqued.
The label is no-nonsense, which is the opposite of what I normally end up purchasing, but it has a twist off cap, so I know this wine knows how to party. Iām down.
We opened up the bottle and poured a couple glasses through an aerator to drink while we made dinner.
First Smell/Taste
Relatively strong alcohol smell right out of the bottle. Once that cleared, it was a clean scent, complex, lots of different notes, difficult to distinguish as an amateur.
Fairly light taste, medium body, very smooth finish. Earthy, oakey flavors. We drink a lot of bourbon, and this had some notes that reminded us of that.
No real distinct fruits that we could identify. Seems pretty unique.
Round 2
After cooking, we poured a second glass to have with dinner. We were having Korean BBQ pork bowls, and this wine was a great match. It had enough flavor to keep up with the spicy BBQ sauce, but was not too overpowering for the veggies on the sides.
The second pour was probably about an hour or so after initially opening the bottle, and the initial alcohol aroma had calmed down a bit. The second glass went down much quicker than the first, and the finish remained smooth. There was very little lingering taste from the wine and it was great for cleaning the palette after eating.
Final Round / Final Thoughts
We cleaned up our dishes, and poured the rest of the bottle as we sat down to watch some TV after dinner. Glass #3 went down probably a bit too quickly as we were just sitting on the couch. Three glasses in and Iām feeling warm and happy. I could drink this wine all night.
Overall, I enjoyed the bottle. After reading the other lab rat report above, I think we probably could have done better decanting this bottle a bit longer, but hey, thatās our inexperience showing. This is a very versatile wine that would be a good match for a lot of different situations.
Would I buy it?
Probably not at the 2 bottle price, but it is something I would keep my eyes on in the future.
Iāve got a pretty big stash to work though right now, and at this price point, this is not something I want to just add to the pile.
If I had a special occasion planned or needed a wine to take to a dinner party, this would be a good option.
That being said - if anyone in the Chicago area wants to split a case a few ways, I would be down to grab a few bottles.
@ChiCityShimo@rpm
Everyone on the '18 tour received a wheel, and, iirc, she also has some informative tutorials online on the how/why of her wine wheel.
Well done rpm. Is there a source for additional information about the āmodifiedā Davis method?
I want these, but this is bad timing. Iām supposed to be Christmas gift shopping, not buying gifts for myself. As such, I shall sit on my hands until the offer rolls over and hope that @winedavid49 can make them reappear in the spring. Iām terrible at this self-control thing.
Yes, me too. The recent wine sales, i.e. Benchmark Bin Sale, WTSO Mag Monday, etc., have killed my buying power. I wish WD had a repeat offer week, just as you suggest.
Tasting Notes
āA tight and linear red with blackberry and chocolate character. Full body and firm tannins and a flavorful finish. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, malbec, petit verdot, cabernet franc and merlot. Beautiful now but better in 2020.ā
93 Points, James Suckling
Our 2014 Winemakerās Reserve Red Wine is the perfect blend to showcase the deeply concentrated, complex wines of a wonderful vintage. This deep crimson-hued Bordeaux-style blend bursts with expressive aromas of rhubarb, rustic cherry and Christmas spice-cake aromas. Underlying the bright fruits is a subtle smoked meatiness, reminiscent of prosciutto-wrapped fresh figs. On the palate the blend mixes both dark and red berry notes, creating a pleasing mouthfeel with hints of delicate young rose perfume and dusty tannins that dance across your palate on the lengthy finish.
Vintage and Winemaking Notes
Dry, early and shaking is how 2014 will be remembered in Napa Valley, yet it had a silver lining with small, concentrated berries and high quality. Februaryās rains brought the total rainfall from low to adequate and helped relieve three years of drought conditions. Warm temperatures promoted early budbreak and accelerated grape maturation. Just as harvest began, a dramatic 6.0 earthquake shook Napa Valley awake on August 24; Provenance was fortunate to come through unscathed. We finished the very compact, plentiful harvest by mid-October and celebrated the vintageās āripened-to-perfectionā grapes.
Each grape variety was grown in the specific mesoclimate and soils of Napa Valley where it was able to achieve its most outstanding characteristic. A significant portion of the wine was grown on our estate vineyards. The Cabernet Sauvignon came from the St. Helena, Rutherford and Yountville AVAs; Merlot from the Oakville and Los Carneros AVAs; Cabernet Franc from the Calistoga AVA; Malbec from the Mt. Veeder AVA; and Petit Verdot from the Rutherford AVA.
After hand-harvesting the fruit and then hand-sorting it twice at the winery, we gently destemmed the grapes to retain at least 60 percent whole berries. Three days of cold-soaking before fermentation gently extracted the deep purple color and rich varietal flavors from the skins. A portion of the wine was fermented in barrels, with the balance in stainless steel to enhance the plush texture of the wine and integrate fruit and oak character. Following fermentation, extended skin contact, and gentle pressing, the wine completed malolactic fermentation in barrels to round out the acidity. Aging in French oak barrels wove toasty oak tones through the dark-fruit character.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$1013.22/case (including shipping) at Provenance Vineyards
About The Winery
Winery: Provenance Vineyards
Provenance Vineyards is a leader in the renaissance of Rutherford, Napa Valley winemaking, known for crafting small-lot Bordeaux varietal wines from the unique personalities of Napa Valleyās most renown vineyards. Being a āBordeaux Houseā, our wines are made from the traditional grape varieties originating from Bordeaux, France, which include; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Most of our wines are sourced from our Estate Vineyards in the heart of the Napa Valley in Rutherford.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, December 20th - Wednesday, December 26th
Provenance Vineyards Winemakerās Reserve Red Blend
2 bottles for $79.99 $39.99/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $349.99 $29.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2014 Provenance Vineyards Winemakerās Reserve Red Blend
Love Provenance!!!
Hoping for some rats on this one!!
@jmdavidson1 ditto!
@jmdavidson1 $32 and change to IL. If we get persuaded and something comes together our way Iād be interested in 3/4. Preferable 3.
Random note, this is part of Provenanceās sale today only. $541/case including shipping.
@kaolis Have never had any Provenance. Cyber Monday wine websites could kill my cc.
@jmdavidson1 same hereā¦Iām a maybe, not a for sure. Can be good stuff, itās another of those wines that Iāve enjoyed on and off over the years
That case price is hard to beat.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2014 Provenance Vineyards Reserve - $130 = 27.07%
Fun fact: I spent a summer when I was 22 working in the tasting room at Provenance. (And in an unrelated coincidence, my dad is actually the one who named it Provenance, way back when it was created under Chalone)
@novium Wait, Chalone created this winery?!
@klezman yeah, the Chalone wine group, in the early 2000s
@novium Tom Rinaldi of Duckhorn fame was the founding winemaker and always considered this his pet project. He still shows up to every one of our events.
@novium @rollwrig Is the vintner in the house?
@foxrunner @novium Thatās me (wellā¦sort of). I work here but am not the winemaker.
Let me know if you guys have any questions and I will do my best to monitor and answer what I can.
@rollwrig yes, I know. Heāll know my dad if you ask.
@novium @rollwrig One of the ruling elite need to give you the special treatment in your signature line!
@foxrunner @novium Feel free to tag me if a vintner or winery rep shows up and is missing their badge.
And from Wine Enthusiast:
90 Points
This combines all five red Bordeaux varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominant at 48% and Cabernet Franc close behind at 24%. Juicy, approachable and round, it has strong present tannins and an intensity of oak, tobacco and cedar. VB 11/1/18
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/provenance-vineyards-2014-winemakers-reserve-red-napa-valley-293770/
fwiw
Any Minnesota folks interested in splitting a case? I have commitments for up to 8. So, need someone to take at least 4 (could part with 6 if necessary).
@Rooboy I would be interested in 4. In St. Paul. You anywhere close?
@Rooboy Rattage below a bit weak for price, I would still be in for 2 but not 4.
@Rooboy In keeping with my resolution to buy less wine, Iāll take the 2 that PRH2 is passing on.
@coynedj Wine arrives on Tuesday, Dec 11
At last, a wine for me to 'rat!
Thanksgiving week - with its oodles of Pinot Noir- and Chardonnay-friendly Turkey in every form and usual sides - is a tough time to take on a big Bordeaux blend, but someone has to do the tough jobsā¦
So, on Friday last, rpm, SWMBO, and BlndBmb8 (aka daughter #1 who has been tasting forever - we have a picture from her first birthday of her pulling a champagne bottle out of a wine rackā¦) stood to our glasses and modified Davis scoresheets to do our duty for our Casemates.
Our approach was typical: Around midday, I pulled the cork and put an ounce or so into each glass for an initial impression. Based on that, I decanted the rest of the bottle and we let it sit for between an hour and an hour and a half while we engaged in other activities. We then tasted again for score. Then had some with turkey leftovers.
The rest of the bottle sat in the decanter overnight and SWMBO and I had it with turkey leftovers the following evening (BlndBmb8 had already headed home).
Enough with the story, already, I hear you scream, tell us about the wine!
Initial Impression upon opening:
NOTE: these notes/impressions were made without discussion and without reading the label re blend/alcohol contact.
Appearance
rpm clear, not brilliantly clear
SWMBO good, could be clearer
BlndBmb8 no specific note
Color
rpm Characteristic for Cab, medium depth
SWMBO good
BlndBmb8 no specific note
Aroma and Bouquet
rpm hot nose, berries (not specific) and currants, substantial vanillin (āoakyā)
SWMBO very hot
BlndBmb8 cherry, currants, vanilla (medicinal), something sharp (high alcohol?)
Total Acidity
rpm acid seems a little high
SWMBO ok, good balance
BlndBmb8 sour
Sweetness
rpm bitter
SWMBO too fruity/jammy
BlndBmb8 no specific notee
Body
rpm medium
SWMBO no specific note
BlndBmb8 full, fills the mouth, long finish
Flavor
rpm woody, underlying fruit not differentiated, you can taste the alcohol
SWMBO alcohol dominates
BlndBmb8 fruit becomes overwhelmed by oak and alcohol
Bitterness
rpm bitter
SWMBO no specific note
BlndBmb8 no
Astringency
rpm OK, finish medium
SWMBO probably better in an hour
BlndBmb8 yes (to āis tannin level appropriate?ā)
General Quality
rpm clearly very closed, needs to open Decant!
SWMBO too closed to tell
BlndBmb8 too closed - did not enjoy
OK, now you can see why we decantedā¦
An Hour Later:
For brevity, Iām only noting the changes in evaluation
Aroma and Bouquet
rpm more currant and berry fruit. very (but not over) ripe, still a little hot but much better, less noticable vanillin (oak) - mostly at back
SWMBO good nose/nice fruit balance/nice mustiness,
BlndBmb8 less dominated by alcohol and vanilla, still cherry, currant
Sweetness
rpm now appropriate, not bitter
Body
rpm seems fuller than medium, not really āfullā to me
Flavor
rpm fruit more prominent, berries (undifferentiated) predominate, but some currant. oak much less pronounced on the back of the palate
SWMBO alcohol dissipated after an hour, flavors ātypicalā
BlndBmb8 muting of alcohol and oak food wine
Astringency
rpm finish now medium long, appropriate level of tannin detectable no oak no long dominates.
SWMBO yes, was better an hour later.
General Quality
rpm a solid wine, good Bordeaux blend, definitely a food wine.
BlndBmb8 did not enjoy.
Scoring: rpm was the only one to give a numerical Davis score:
Appearance 1-1/2 (2 possible)
Color 1-1/2 (2 possible)
Aroma and Bouquet 4 (6 possible)
Total acidity 2 (2 possible)
Sweetness 1 (1 possible
Body 1 (1 possible)
Flavor 1-1/2 (2 possible)
Bitterness 1 (1 possible)
Astringency 1 (1 possible)
General quality 1 (2 possible)
----------
Total Score 15-1/2 (20 possible)
Ranges:
Superior: 17-20 (wines above 18 are uncommon)
Standard: 13-16 (most quality wines fall within)
Below
Standard: 9-12 (still sound commercial wine, but not very interesting.
Unacceptable: Below 9 (usually serious flaws or spoiled)
After the wine was decanted and open for an hour, I liked it considerably better than SWMBO or BlndBmb8.
SWMBO generally prefers Pinot Noir to Cabernet and dislikes very big Cabernet/Cabernet blend wines, especially if hot. Likes mature Cabernet made in (e.g.) Corison style or St. Julien or St. Estephe in Bordeaux.
BlndBmb8 likes Cabernet, but prefers a lighter, or better yet, leaner style. Likes Pauillac in Bordeaux.
I thought the wine worked well after 1-1/2 hours with my leftover turkey late lunch.
Even better, after about 30 hours, when I had the rest of the bottle with more turkey leftovers on Saturday evening, the tannins had nicely smoothed and the high alcohol was barely noticeable. Fruit was still very ripe, but it was enjoyable. If you like big wines and you like Cabernet, youāll probably like this.
I think it is imperative to decant this wine; I would give it at least 2, preferably 3 hours in a decanter before serving. Your patience will be rewarded
Would I buy it? Probably not, but then: (1) I have quite a bit of mature and maturing Cabernet/Bordeaux blends (that I know SWMBO and BlndBmb8 will like) in my cellar for drinking at least through 2030 and (2) I rarely drink Cabernet/Bordeaux blends under the age of 10 in any event.
At the case price, this is a decent deal, IMHO for those who want a good, solid Napa Cab/Bordeaux blend to drink with food that needs a full bodied red to stand up to it. With decanting, the flavors are right and it works well with food.
@rpm whewā¦sounds like hard work
@rpm Thanks for the report! As expected, youāve given me all I need to know!
@rpm Happy to see you finally got a chance to Rat! I enjoyed the review.
@rpm Thank you for this thoughtful and much-appreciated report. My impressions almost exactly, but far more precisely stated; I genuinely learned from your notes. Cheers.
Sorry Iām a bit late to post this, but better late than never, right?
Got the opportunity to be a lab rat for this one, although I feel a bit out of my league. My girlfriend and I have zero experience writing any kind of wine reviews and very little actual knowledge about wine, we just like drinking it. So letās have some funā¦
Initial impressions
We were unfamiliar with the vineyard, so we went ahead and looked it up on google. Seems to be well liked overall, although there are not too many reviews available for this particular red blend. In general, I do like red blends when theyāre done well to play off different strengths of different varietals. Based on the list price of a bottle this is probably cost prohibitive for me most of the time, so I am glad Iām getting the chance to try one for free. My interest is piqued.
The label is no-nonsense, which is the opposite of what I normally end up purchasing, but it has a twist off cap, so I know this wine knows how to party. Iām down.
We opened up the bottle and poured a couple glasses through an aerator to drink while we made dinner.
First Smell/Taste
Relatively strong alcohol smell right out of the bottle. Once that cleared, it was a clean scent, complex, lots of different notes, difficult to distinguish as an amateur.
Fairly light taste, medium body, very smooth finish. Earthy, oakey flavors. We drink a lot of bourbon, and this had some notes that reminded us of that.
No real distinct fruits that we could identify. Seems pretty unique.
Round 2
After cooking, we poured a second glass to have with dinner. We were having Korean BBQ pork bowls, and this wine was a great match. It had enough flavor to keep up with the spicy BBQ sauce, but was not too overpowering for the veggies on the sides.
The second pour was probably about an hour or so after initially opening the bottle, and the initial alcohol aroma had calmed down a bit. The second glass went down much quicker than the first, and the finish remained smooth. There was very little lingering taste from the wine and it was great for cleaning the palette after eating.
Final Round / Final Thoughts
We cleaned up our dishes, and poured the rest of the bottle as we sat down to watch some TV after dinner. Glass #3 went down probably a bit too quickly as we were just sitting on the couch. Three glasses in and Iām feeling warm and happy. I could drink this wine all night.
Overall, I enjoyed the bottle. After reading the other lab rat report above, I think we probably could have done better decanting this bottle a bit longer, but hey, thatās our inexperience showing. This is a very versatile wine that would be a good match for a lot of different situations.
Would I buy it?
Probably not at the 2 bottle price, but it is something I would keep my eyes on in the future.
Iāve got a pretty big stash to work though right now, and at this price point, this is not something I want to just add to the pile.
If I had a special occasion planned or needed a wine to take to a dinner party, this would be a good option.
That being said - if anyone in the Chicago area wants to split a case a few ways, I would be down to grab a few bottles.
@ChiCityShimo Kudos for your thoughtful review - I highly recommend you get a copy of Ann Nobleās Wine Aroma Wheel: (www.winearomawheel.com)Wine Aroma Wheel
It will help you build a wine description vocabulary and will help you learn more quickly to isolate particular aromas
@ChiCityShimo thanks for the great rat!
@ChiCityShimo Great reporting! Thanks!
@rpm thanks for the tip!
@ChiCityShimo @rpm
Everyone on the '18 tour received a wheel, and, iirc, she also has some informative tutorials online on the how/why of her wine wheel.
Well done rpm. Is there a source for additional information about the āmodifiedā Davis method?
Nice job on your first Rat! I often find newbees opinions better than the experienced ones. They often are more candid. Thanks!
/giphy herbivorous-spooky-snow
Why not? Iām a sucker for Bordeaux blendsā¦
I want these, but this is bad timing. Iām supposed to be Christmas gift shopping, not buying gifts for myself. As such, I shall sit on my hands until the offer rolls over and hope that @winedavid49 can make them reappear in the spring. Iām terrible at this self-control thing.
Yes, me too. The recent wine sales, i.e. Benchmark Bin Sale, WTSO Mag Monday, etc., have killed my buying power. I wish WD had a repeat offer week, just as you suggest.