Purchased from Splash Wines, $16.95

Vivino Profile

Aaron:  The nose of was distinctly milk chocolate and blueberries while the flavor was powerful and front-loaded.  This flavor quickly raced to the back of the mouth before dissipating quickly (too quickly in my opinion).  There was a good amount of smokey tobacco with a dry finish of sandy plant roots, celery, and vegetables.  88 points

Teri: Nothing stands out on the nose of this wine. The flavors are smooth and full with essences of mushroom, tobacco, and cherry fruit. From first sip to long finish, there is a consistent background of black pepper. 88 points 

Purchased from World Market, price varies by store

Aaron:  I was pretty disappointed with this bottle but it was pretty inexpensive which justified the trial.  The dull, musky smell was sharp (though not peppery).  Mild berry flavors weren’t sweet but ripe and were coupled with a noticeable hickory smoked cedar (yes, imagine smoking cedar branches over hickory chips).  87 points

Teri: Strong smell of oak and dark wild berries but smooth tannins. The 4 years in the bottle has done the wine well. A slightly muddled flavor up front but then a smooth lingering finish of raspberries leading into oak. 88 points