Wine.com, $25/bottle
Aaron: Drink this wine with food. It’s really not great as a standalone in my opinion but went great with a nice flavorful cheese. The bright oak and small, red berries gave me a sense of youth while charred tobacco leaves added some complexity. I noticed some maple syrup on the nose which was an interesting change but unfortunately, the flavor was not as full as the smell. A little too much chalkiness is why this wine needs food and the flavor escaped too quickly for my preference. 87 alone, 90 with food.
Teri: This is a hearty but easy to drink bottle. I enjoyed the sweet blackberry flavors with a subtle hint of cedar and firm but smooth tannins and a bit of black pepper. Not too complex but delicious. Bring this one to that dinner party or give as a gift to a friend who enjoys wine. 90 points
