M I S C. . R E D S 98 BAY BROS. NV Red Wine Blend California $9 (tasted 9/15/18) 98 BOGLE 2012 Essential Red California $11 98 BRUTOCAO 2011 Quadriga Hopland Ranches - Mendocino $24 (tasted 5/22/15) 98 CHEVALIER GRAND DU ROBERT 2020 Cabernet Franc Pays d'Oc - France $12 (tasted 9/2/22) 98 CONTEMPO 2015 Inferno Argentina $10 (tasted 6/25/16) 98 DIAM ANDES 2007 de Uco Gran Reserva; Valle de Uco; Mendoza - Argentina $35 98 MAGNESS 2013 Red Wine Santa Ynez Valley $22 (tasted 10/26/15) 98 REAPER 2013 Red Wine Santa Ynez Valley $23 (tasted 10/26/15) 97 BODEGAS CARE 2010 XCLNT Seleccion Especial - Spain $44 (tasted 1/31/16) 97 BROADSIDE 2013 Printers Alley Proprietary Red - Paso Robles $20 Wonderful black, blue and red fruit aromas, with red plum, spice and whiffs of smoke and cola. This is a smooth, sexy wine, well-balanced and mouth filling, with an explosion of fruit and spice in the long, long lingering finish. (tasted 8/3/15) 97 BRUTOCAO 2011 Primitivo Contento Vineyard - Mendocino $24 (tasted 5/22/15) 97 CASTILLO 2019 Red La Mancha - Spain $8 (tasted 1/15/21) 97 ESTAMPA 2013 Malbec-Petite Sirah Reserva; Colchagua Valley - Chile $16 (tasted 2/25/18) 97 GHOSTRIDER 2014 Ungrafted Red Blend Lodi $13 (tasted 8/3/15) 97 HOWELL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS 2011 Petit Verdot Howell Mountain - Napa Valley $65 97 IRONSTONE 2011 Obsession Red California $12 A nose full of spice and fruit. Plum, red, black and blue fruit aromas complemented by clove, pepper spice, caramel, vanilla and oak. Well-balanced, a tad sticky in the middle, but displaying nice character and a rounding tannin finish. Let breathe for a while and it’ll open nicely. 97 KENNEDY SHAH 2013 La Vie En Rouge Columbia Valley $14 (tasted 9/4/16) 97 MAISON RICHE 2023 Cabernet Franc IGP Pays d'Oc - France $15 (tasted 10/27/24) 97 MATCHBOOK 2008 Tinto Rey California $17 97 OYSTER RIDGE (ANCIENT PEAKS) 2014 Red Blend Paso Robles $60 (tasted on 2/5/18) 97 ROBLAR 2012 Ottimo Santa Barbara County $30 Pretty aromas of cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and pepper spice, with hints of blueberry, earth and oak. Rich, well-balanced and a great mouthfeel, this wine delivers fruit-forward, spicy flavors leading to nice lingering round-tannin finish. (tasted 3/28/15) 97 ROCK WALL 2014 Rock Hound Red California $16 (tasted 9/2/17) 97 SOBON ESTATE 2009 ReZerve Primitivo Amador County $24 Consistently one of the best primitivos we taste. From the beautiful aromas of red and black fruit, floral spices and a backbone of oak, this silky-smooth wine never disappoints. It blends the best qualities of primitivo with those of zinfandel to offer a wonderfully balanced, mouth-filling, extremely sexy wine that lingers on the palate forever. 97 SOBON ESTATE 2008 ReZerve Primitivo Amador County $24 This is a rich, round, sexy, smooth wine showcasing jammy raspberry, blueberry and cherry flavors wrapped in spice and soft oak flavors. The best primitivo we’ve tasted to date! 97 TETE DU RHONE 2012 Cotes du Rhone France $15 You can tell this is a beauty from the first sniff. Beautiful black cherry, raspberry, blueberry and brambleberry attack your nose, with light spice following. On the palate this wine has terrific character and balance, with spicy fruit flavors and light floral notes leading through the wonderfully long, round finish. Tasty! 97 TIE DYE 2013 Red Blend North Coast $19 Blackberry, black currant, black cherry, blueberry and plum aromas swept-up in spice, vanilla and sweet oak. This is an extremely interesting blend of seven varietals. Really well-balanced, smooth, spicy and offers great character on the palate. The finish is wonderfully long, round and leaves you wanting more more more! An excellent wine at a great price point. (tasted 9/18/15) 97 WISE VILLA WINERY 2014 Wisdom Of Wise "WOW" Sierra Foothills $31.37 (tasted 3/15/16) 96 BLACK'S STATION 2015 Red Blend Yolo County $12 (tasted on 7/10/17) 96 BRUTOCAO 2011 Uber Tuscan Hopland Ranches - Mendocino $24 (tasted 5/22/15) 96 BURNSIDE ROAD NV Sunset Red North Coast $14 (tasted 2/6/20) 96 CASTILLO DE MONLERO 2013 Tempranillo D.O. Valencia - Spain $10 (tasted 8/18/15) 96 CONTEMPO 2017 Carmenere Chile $10 (tasted 7/14/18) 96 CONTEMPO NV Crianza Spain $10 96 FRIENDS.RED 2011 Red Wine Sonoma County $12 Starts with blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, ripe plum and blueberry and pepper spice, with complements of coffee and tea, all wrapped in a good dose of oak. The palate delivers the same, with oak leading the way through the slightly tight but nice lingering finish. 96 KENNEDY SHAH 2012 La Vie En Rouge Columbia Valley $14 (tasted 1/14/16) 96 LAKE SONOMA 2019 Boar's Blood Red Blend Sonoma County $60 This is a really rich wine. Problem now is it’s still a bit young, which means it’s a bit chewy and chalky. Despite this, the wine’s depth of fruit – blackberry, red currant, boysenberry and black cherry – and seconds of briar, violets, vanilla and oak almost compensate for this. If you want to drink this now, decant or let sit in tour glass for a while. Or, wait a few years and you’ll be well rewarded with a wonderful, rich, juicy wine! (tasted 10/20/22) 96 LES CELLARS DE SOREN 2017 Saint Amour Beaujolais - France $21 (tasted 12/14/19) 96 LIONS RIDGE 2021 Proprietary Red Blend Reserve - Central Coast $25 (tasted 6/7/23) 96 MANCAN NV Red California $5/375ml Can (tasted 8/29/17) 96 MATTHEW FRITZ 2013 Red Wine Blend Napa Valley $15 (tasted 6/24/16) 96 MCFADDEN 2010 Coro Mendocino Mendocino $37 Nice black and red fruit aromas with licorice/anise hints, light spice, mineral dust and oak. A little tight at this point, but well-balanced and tasty, this wine can use a little more time in the bottle (or should be decanted) to blossom into a smooth, round wine with a wonderful, lasting finish. Very consistent wine. 96 MCFADDEN 2009 Coro Mendocino Mendocino $37 Deep black and red fruit aromas with licorice/anise hints, light spice and oak. A little tight at this point, but well-balanced and tasty, this wine can use a little more time in the bottle (or should be decanted) to blossom into a smooth, round wine with a wonderful, lasting finish. 96 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2014 Petit Verdot Dry Creek Valley $20 Inviting nose of blackberry, black currant, red plum, dark raspberry and cherry fruit, with light floral notes and a good dose of oak. It’s assertive on the palate, well-balanced (although pushing the limit on oak), with a full mouthfeel leading to a nice, long, lingering finish. (tasted 7/30/18) 96 NINE LINE VINES 2015 Red Blend California $18 Nice cherry, plum and raspberry aromas with hints of blackberry, some spice elements, mineral dust and oak. On the palate this is a medium-bodied, nicely-balanced wine with red and black fruit flavors complemented by light dust, spice and oak, leading to a round finish that’s long and memorable. (tasted 8/29/17) 96 NOW PRESENTING 2016 Red Wine Paso Robles $15 This is the type of red wine you expect from Paso Robles. Nice red, black and blue fruit, with some cassis and licorice poking through with the oak. On the palate this is a rich, flavorful, full-bodied wine, with a nice, spicy character, and a long, lingering, fruit and oak finish. It’s a little sticky on the palate right now but should soften up with a little time in the bottle. (tasted 6/25/18) 96 PRADOREY 2011 Crianza Single Vineyard; Ribera del Duero - Spain $20 (tasted 3/23/17) 96 QUANTA 2015 Crianza Spain $12 (tasted 2/14/19) 96 QUASAR 2015 Carmenere Gran Reserva; Curico Valley - Chile $20 From the first whiff of this wine you know you’re gonna like it. Beautiful cherry, raspberry, red currant and plum aromas surrounded by light floral elements, some spice and a dash of oak. On the palate, this wine has real character! Fresh, tart fruit flavors set against a crisp acid backbone leads the way through the long, lingering finish. A really nice example of this varietal! (tasted 6/8/17) 96 R&B CELLARS 2009 The Improviser Red Table Wine - California $15 A fresh nose of raspberry, blackberry, cherry and strawberry, with hints of blueberry, vanilla, spice and oak. Wonderfully balanced, smooth, and juicy, this wine delivers a lot more than its price tag. Buy this by the case! 96 RARE WINES 2014 Purple Blend Dark Red Wine $10 Enticing blackberry, black currant, dark raspberry and black cherry aromas swirling in black pepper, light floral notes, vanilla and oak. On the palate this is a well-balanced, well-crafted red blend, featuring sweet fruit flavors in a lush, sexy body, leading to a wonderfully long, lingering finish. At this price buy this by the case! (tasted 8/8/17) 96 RENEGADE (ANCIENT PEAKS) 2015 Red Blend Paso Robles $26 (tasted on 2/5/18) 96 ROBLAR 2012 Grassetto Santa Barbara County $30 Black currant, black cherry and raspberry aromas with hints of black and green olives, spice, earth and oak. The fruit takes over on the palate, with rich, flavorful strokes against a spicy canvas, leading to a nice, long, lingering round-tannin finish. (tasted 3/28/15) 96 SEAN MINOR 2015 Nicole Marie Red Blend - North Coast $22 Nice blackberry, cherry, plum and dark raspberry, with hints of cassis, vanilla and oak. On the palate this wine is still a bit tight, a little chewy/chalky, but offers wonderful flavors and secondary characteristics and the potential to be a stunning wine. Give this wine a year or two. (tasted 4/14/18) 96 SOBON ESTATE 2010 ReZerve Primitivo Amador County $24 Jammy raspberry, cherry, plum and spice, with toasty oak, vanilla and hints of chocolate. This wine has character! From the forward fruit to the nice complement of spice, this well-balanced, fruit-driven wine never disappoints through it’s long, spicy finish. 96 SOBON ESTATE 2011 Tannat ReZerve - Lodi $24 Not many wineries make a straight tannat, and even fewer make it well. This is a great example of what can be done to a grape variety known to be stiff, hard and tannic. Opposite of expectations, this is a smooth, rich, velvety wine with sweet black fruit flavors mingling with plum pie, vanilla and oak, leading to a super soft lingering finish. Give this a try! 96 SOBON ESTATE 2010 ReZerve Tannat Lodi $24 Smoky baked wild blackberry, black cherry and plum aromas followed by vanilla and oak and whiffs of cigarette ash. It all comes together on the palate in a nicely-balanced, well-rounded wine that lingers well on the finish. A very interesting wine. 96 SOL ROUGE 2010 Cabernet Franc Lake County $32 96 THE WINERY SF 2009 People's Blend Red Wine - North Coast $16 Nice nose of black and red fruit aromas, with light blue fruit, spice and tobacco/earth notes. This is a really tasty wine for the price. Great balance and mouthfeel, all the flavors come together in a beautiful round, lingering finish. 96 THE WINERY SF 2008 Flower Power Red Wine - North Coast $30 96 TURKEY FLAT 2015 Butchers Block Barosa Valley - Australia $20 (tasted 2/25/18) 95 BODEGAS CARE 2011 Fincas Bancales Reserva; Old Vines Garnacha - Spain $26 (tasted 1/31/16) 95 BOGLE 2009 Phantom California $16 95 BROTHERS IN ARMS (LANGHORN CREEK) 2013 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon No. 6 - Australia $25 (tasted 2/25/18) 95 BRUTOCAO 2010 Quadriga Hopland Ranches - Mendocino $24 Dried cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum aromas are balanced against coffee/black tea, leather, floral/violet notes, minerals, pepper spice and hints of oak. This is a well-balanced wine with a nice blend of red and black fruit leading to a smooth lingering finish. 95 BRUTOCAO 2009 Quadriga Hopland Ranches - Mendocino $24 Wild blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, cherry and plum aromas are balanced against coffee/black tea, floral/violet notes, minerals, pepper spice and hints of oak. This is a well-balanced wine with a nice blend of red and black fruit leading to a smooth lingering finish. 95 CHEVALIER GRAND DU ROBERT 2023 Cabernet Franc IGP OC - France $12 (tasted 8/10/24) 95 CHIME NV Red Wine Schatz Farm Vineyard - California $13 (tasted 10/26/15) 95 CORNELLANA 2014 Red Blend Chile $8 (tasted 8/18/15) 95 CURRENCY 2015 Red Blend California $12 (tasted 2/14/19) 95 ESTAMPA 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec-Syrah Fina Reserva; Colchagua Valley - Chile $20 (tasted 2/25/18) 95 FIESTA DEL POMAR JUNCTION 2007 Red Wine Central Coast $34 95 FRIENDS.RED 2015 Red Wine Sonoma County $12 (tasted 4/4/17) 95 LIONS RIDGE 2019 Allura Red Wine Blend; Reserve; Barrel Select - Santa Clara Valley $25 (tasted 11/20/21) 95 LUCAS & LEWELLEN 2016 Hidden Asset Red Wine - Santa Barbara County $25 (tasted 4/19/18) 95 MATCHBOOK 2016 Petit Verdot Dunnigan Hills $17 Most Petit Verdot tend to be on the hard, angular side. But not this one. Although it’s a little chewy/chalky at this stage, this wine offers beautiful, soft, black fruit flavors, plum, cherry and blueberry, in a velvety body full of clove and brown spices, violets and vanilla/oak. Give this wine a year of so to soften and it’ll be even better! (tasted on 5/7/19) 95 MATCHBOOK 2009 Tempranillo Dunnigan Hills $15 95 MEADOWCROFT 2013 Cabernet Franc Giles Vineyard - Sonoma Valley $35 Pretty raspberry, cherry, blackberry and plum aromas give way to vanilla and oak. A lot of winemaking in this wine, with fruit and floral elements giving way to vanilla and a lot of oak. For oak lovers. (tasted 3/4/15) 95 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2014 Vin Ruisseau Dry Creek Valley $20 First impression is a grapy quality of blackberry, dark plum, cherry and light blueberry, with a good dose of mineral dust against modest oak. On the palate this wine offers bold, spicy fruit in a slight tight body, leading to a nice lingering, spicy finish. (tasted 7/30/18) 95 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2013 Red Wine Le Bon Cochon - Dry Creek Valley $30 Nice cherry, raspberry, blackberry, plum and strawberry aromas. At this tasting the palate is a bit gritty, with the pretty fruit flavors fighting for attention. The finish is decent, with spice leading the way to a slightly sticky end. Needs time. (tasted 3/28/15) 95 ONE LEAF NV Sweet Red Mendoza - Argentina $10 (tasted 7/10/15) 95 RARE 2016 Black Blend California $10 (tasted 5/18/20) 95 SHENANDOAH VINEYARDS 2010 Zingiovese Amador County $16 Dried red and berry fruits, with coffee/black tea, prunes, cocoa, vanilla and light oak following. This wine comes alive on the palate, with jammy fruit flavors enveloped in a spicy body, leading to a little tight/sticky finish. 95 SOL ROUGE 2008 The Keep Red Wine - California $60 95 STEVENOT 2010 Danza Roja Gran Reserva - Sierra Foothills $24 95 WISE VILLA WINERY 2012 Tempranillo Sierra Foothills $34.37 Pretty cherry, raspberry, strawberry, plum and pepper spice followed by vanilla and oak. The wine is a little sticky in its young age, but opened up nicely overnight, delivering everything the nose suggested in a well-balanced, finely-crafted wine. The finish is a bit tight, so decanting or glass time now will help this wine out greatly. Give it a few years and it should blossom into a wonderful, smooth gem. 94 AIRFIELD 2014 Red Wine Yakima Valley $18 (tasted 11/2/16) 94 BRUTOCAO 2009 Primitivo Contento Vineyard - Mendocino $22 Dark raspberry, cherry, strawberry and blackberry mingle with light earth notes, spice, vanilla and oak. On the palate this is a spicy wine with good fruit flavors leading to a tough but rounding finish. Give this wine a little time or decant. 94 BURNSIDE ROAD NV Sunset Red California $15 (tasted 4/23/22) 94 KENNEDY SHAH 2016 La Vie en Rouge Columbia Valley $20 A full nose of blackberry, black raspberry, plum, cherry, light blueberry and cassis enveloped in spice, light mineral dust and oak. This is a rich, bold, slightly gritty but well-structured wine that needs to age a bit to mellow out. (tasted 6/5/18) 94 MAGNIFICO 2019 Garnacha D.O.P. Carinena - Spain $12 (tasted 10/25/20) 94 TARAVAL 2018 Red Wine Paso Robles $18 (tasted 10/15/20) 93 AIRFIELD 2014 Dauntless Yakima Valley $18 (tasted 11/2/16) 93 BRUTOCAO 2010 Primitivo Contento Vineyard - Mendocino $24 Dark raspberry, cherry, strawberry and blackberry mingle with light earth notes, spice, vanilla and oak. On the palate this is a spicy wine with good fruit flavors leading to a tough but rounding finish. Give this wine a little time or decant. 93 CONTEMPO 2021 Inferno Cachapoal Valley - Chile $10 (tasted 4/22/22) 93 CONTEMPO 2018 Tempranillo Spain $10 (tasted 5/26/19) 93 ESTAMPA 2015 Gold D.O. Marchigue; Colchagua Valley - Chile $25 (tasted 2/25/18) 93 GHOSTRUNNER 2016 Ungrafted Red Lodi $14 (tasted 8/27/17) 93 HINDSIGHT 2014 20/20 Red Wine Napa Valley $35 A nose of dark red fruit, some black fruit, plum, minerals, chocolate and oak. Like the other Hindsight cabs, this wine is well-balanced and crafted, slightly chewy at this point, but well made, with red and black fruit flavors, a hint of spice and a nice rounding tannin finish. (tasted 12/5/16) 93 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2012 Maison Rouge Sonoma County $20 Mature blackberry, dark plum, cherry and black currant aromas supported by floral spice notes, cigar/tobacco, mineral dust and light oak. This is a wine that’s just about at its peak. Any more time in the bottle and we’re going to lose the fruit to the secondary aging characteristics. So if you like mature wines this one’s for you! (tasted 7/30/18) 93 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2012 Maison Rouge Dry Creek Valley $20 Nice cherry, blackberry, plum and raspberry aromas with some spice elements, mineral dust and cedary oak. On the palate this is a medium-bodied, nicely-balanced wine with red and black fruit flavors swimming in dust, spice and cedary oak, leading to a finish that’s currently a bit tight. Given a little time this wine should grow some legs. (tasted 9/18/15) 93 QUANTA 2018 Crianza Yecla - Spain $12 (tasted 5/17/21) 93 QUANTA 2017 Crianza Yecla - Spain $12 (tasted 6/22/20) 93 RAY'S CREEK 2013 Riverbend Red Central Coast $17 Nice nose of black and red fruit aromas, with light blue fruit, spice and tobacco/earth notes. This is a really nice wine for the price. Great balance and mouthfeel, all the flavors come together in a beautiful round, lingering finish. (tasted 8/3/15) 93 THE ARSONIST 2014 Red Blend California $22 (tasted on 7/10/17) 92 CONTEMPO 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC; Abruzzo - Italy $10 (tasted 6/26/19) 92 CONTEMPO 2017 Tempranillo Spain $10 (tasted 6/5/18) 92 CASTILLO DE MONLERO 2020 Tempranillo D.O. Valencia - Spain $9 (tasted 6/24/21) 92 DOS FINCAS (CARLOS BASSO) 2017 Cabernet/Malbec Valle de Uco; Mendoza - Argentina $13 (tasted 1/19/20) 92 EHRET 2009 Bella's Blend Knight's Valley $45 Blackberry, plum, black cherry, cassis and walnut aromas, with dark chocolate, caramel and sweet oak. This is a compact wine, needing more time to open. It’s well-built, has nice crisp acids, but right now it’s all front of the palate delicious, and needs to expand to fulfill a back-palate finish. 92 FRIENDS.RED 2012 Red Wine Sonoma County $12 Aromas of blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, ripe plum and blueberry and pepper spice, with complements of coffee and tea, all wrapped in a good dose of oak. The palate delivers the same well-balanced flavors, with oak leading the way through the slightly tight but nice lingering finish. 92 KILLIBINBIN (LANGHORN CREEK) 2012 The Shadow South Australia $20 (tasted 2/25/18) 92 KILLIBINBIN (LANGHORN CREEK) 2012 Scaredy Cat South Australia $20 (tasted 2/25/18) 92 MAISON RICHE 2021 Bordeaux Superieur AOC; Bordeaux Superieur - France $14 (tasted 5/14/23) 92 NOW PRESENTING 2018 Red Wine Paso Robles $15 (tasted 1/17/21) 92 SOL ROUGE 2011 Cabernet Franc Lake County $32 91 BABYLONSTOREN 2015 Babel Red Blend; W.O. Simonsberg-Paarl - South Africa $20 (tasted 9/7/17) 91 CHEVALIER GRAND DU ROBERT 2014 Bordeaux France $11 (tasted 9/2/16) 91 GHOSTRIDER 2015 Red Blend Lodi $13 (tasted 9/1/16) 91 KUMBAYA 2013 Red Wine Blend California $9 (tasted 3/15/15) 91 LAYER CAKE 2012 Sea of Stone Red Wine; Mendoza - Argentina $16 (tasted 1/25/16) 91 QUANTA NV Tempranillo Spain $11 91 SOBON ESTATE 2012 Primitivo ReZerve - Amador County $24 A lot of dark fruit on the nose – blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry and blueberry, surrounded by a lot of oak. This is a nice red wine with a good dose of oak for those who want it. It did open-up a bit overnight, so try decanting or letting it sit in the glass for a while. 91 THE WINERY SF 2008 Rockstar Red Wine - North Coast $30 90 ALLEGRIA 2015 Carignan Gourmand Pays de Caux - France $25 (tasted 1/19/20) 90 BABYLONSTOREN 2015 Nebukadnesar Red Wine; W.O. Simonsberg-Paarl - South Africa $45 (tasted 9/7/17) 90 BLACK ELK 2015 Tempranillo Spain $11 (tasted 4/5/17) 90 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS NV Schoolhouse Red Mendocino $12 Dusty cherry, plum, strawberry and raspberry aromas, with light oak and spice following. The palate delivers the same, with a thread of minerals and spice leading to a firm-tannin finish. 90 BODEGAS CARE 2013 Tinto Roble Garnacha/Syrah - Spain $13 (tasted 1/31/16) 90 CONTEMPO 2013 Crianza Spain $10 (tasted 1/21/16) 90 FIRESTARTER 2011 Garnacha Carinena Spain $16 Dark fruit notes of black cherry, blackberry, anise and plum, with touches of earth, spice, chocolate, vanilla and oak. The palate presents the same, with dark fruit flavors leading the way. This wine is young and a bit sticky currently, but will definitely improve with some age. 90 LAYER CAKE 2012 Primativo IGT - Italy $16 (tasted 1/25/16) 90 MAGNIFICO 2017 Garnacha D.O.P. Carinena - Spain $12 90 MAISON RICHE 2022 Cabernet Franc IGP; Pays d'Oc - France $12 (tasted 5/14/23) 90 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2012 Red Wine Faux Pas - Dry Creek Valley $30 Black, blue and red fruit flavors nestled in spice and light whiffs of oak. This wine starts out nice, but quickly becomes a bit chewy and chalky. The fruit underneath still shines, but it needs time in the bottle to prove its full potential. (tasted 3/28/15) 90 ROTATION 2012 Red Blend California $9 (tasted 6/28/15) 90 SEAN MINOR 2014 Nicole Marie Red Blend - North Coast $22 Aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and blackberry, red plum and cassis, with a good dose of molasses, black pepper, vanilla and oak. As this stage, on the palate, the oak overpowers the dark fruit background, causing the secondary characteristics to lead the way to the kinda stiff finish. This is a wine that can definitely use some age or decanting. Everything’s there, it just needs time to blossom. (tasted 6/4/17) 90 STEPHEN VINCENT 2013 Crimson California $13 (tasted 4/28/17) 90 THE RANDOM WHINE NV Sweet Red California $15 (tasted 4/10/23) 90 VEGAS 2016 Red Coleccion Privada - Spain $13 (tasted 3/21/20)