Wine of the Month Pick, $19.99 retail

Aaron: An oaky nose with some faint olive and tobacco masked what turned out to be a ridiculously smooth flavor.  Medium bodied with a very pleasant mouthfeel, this flavor has a mildly bitter aftertaste following some chocolate and cherry notes.  Smoothness won most of my points; this has a great texture.  88 points

Teri: This french blend didn’t have an impressive nose, but carried all its flavors in the body. I tasted earthy black cherry with a faint hint of nutmeg. A 2012 vintage, it could use a few more years in the bottle to round out some flavors, but the tannins were still surprisingly smooth for only about two years in the bottle. Giving it some breathing time brought out more currant and mineral flavors with some cocoa on the finish. 87 points