The Monterey County winery consistently offers this classic red wine at a very low price for the quality. I’ll admit I liked this vintage much more than the previous year. Easy drinking but far beyond simple, it’s delicious, with ripe fruit flavors of black cherry, plum, strawberry, and bright notes of raspberry. It has just enough oak and spice to make it interesting, yet it doesn’t overpower the fruit. Drinkable on its own, it’s also a great choice for roast turkey or beef, grilled salmon, or a gourmet pizza. Widely available at major grocery stores, it’s only $12 retail.
This article appears in Dec 16-23, 2010.
