The nose on this guy is very smooth, fruity, and somehow worked (if that makes any sense). It doesn’t seem terribly complex; however, this is an undercurrent of something like molasses or burnt sugar which lends some interest to the proceedings.

Initially frankly dull, the wine quickly rears up with a blast of ripe Pinot fruit – and then quickly finds itself buried under alcohol; at just under 15%, this is kind of a bruiser. The finish is short – or, rather, you think it’s going to be. Suddenly, the flavors come back and then ride out on a note of rich strawberry fruit and toasty oak. The tannins aren’t noticeable; this wine seems generally built as a New World fruit bomb.

Overall, how is it? I’m afraid I’m not a good judge of this: it seems fairly well constructed, but it’s all to ends that I don’t particularly care for. There’s no funk, no subtlety, no strangeness, no real beauty here – at least not to me. If you’re a fan of rich, fruity California wines, you might very well like this one. Me, though, I’ll pass.

Sarah’s Vineyard
Price: $26
Closure: Cork