Consistently delicious, this is a really great buy from the highly touted Santa Lucia Highlands region in Monterey County. Beautifully balanced and delightful on its own, it is hard to resist. I loved the meld of tangy red cherry flavors with deeper notes of wild blackberries and plums, nicely nuanced with earth and spice notes. A great choice for the wild local salmon currently coming into markets, or enjoyed with a grilled New York steak, it’s currently on sale at BevMo! for $26.99. The best deal is at Tastes of the Valleys Pismo: only $23.99. I recommend a bottle to enjoy now and a couple of back-ups for the cellar.
This article appears in May 16-23, 2013.