California Red Blends Sampler #2 - $50-$100 Faves

California Red Blends Sampler # - $50-$100 Faves

A $375 Value, Sampler Price Just $299

Sorry if you love light and elegant wines like Burgundy or Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, but this 6-pack sampler is not for you. This collection of California Red Blends is all about what California does best...  big, bold and brash red blends that are lush, juicy and vivacious, making you immediately crave that next sip.

Trefethen "Dragon's Tooth" - When Decanter Magazine's best of year list came out in June 2024, only 2 California wines received the top, 97+ point Platinum Award status - a $225 Cab from Clos du Val and this red blend gem from Oak Knoll's Trefethen Winery.  We love that this unusual and delicious blend relies heavily on a varietal that isn't usually associated with Napa Valley - 49% Malbec 37% Petit Verdot 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pronounced aromas of blueberry, plum and cassis are layered with earthy notes of leather and molasses. Rich and substantial on the palate, flavors of more blueberry, plum and cherry carry over to a long, toasty finish.

Reynolds Family Wines "Persistence" - Winemaker Steve Reynolds and his wines huge favorites around Taylor's, and his Persistence Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend is a real stunner.  Ripe red, black and blue fruits and berries fuse with savory smoked meats and spices, Kalamata olives, baking spice, and hints of dark and milk chocolate. Dark, dense, and full-bodied, its mouthfeel is potent yet hardly overbearing. The finish is long and lively, with flavors and sensations that leave a lasting impression. 

 Vineyard 36 "Foundation" Red - As delicious as the 2020 Cab dominated version of Foundation was, we're glad that it has returned to being the lush and velvety, hedonistic, Merlot heavy blend that we've come to love since it was first released.  Former Carolina Hurricanes stars and red wine lovers Cam Ward and Tim Gleason are joined by partner Jason Earnest and winemaker Keith Emerson in producing this fantastic red blend.  The latest release impresses in its balance and brightness. Red-fruit-dominant, it has grainy, grippy tannin and oak, with a quiet intensity that speaks to its full-bodied power and graceful length.

 Orin Swift "Machete" - If you love bold and spicy Petite Sirah and haven't tried winemaker David Phinney's Petite Sirah base blend he calls Machete, then you're in for a real treat.  Violet ink in the glass, a nose of black plums, cassis, and cacao engage. The robust entry consists of a progressing palate of blackberry and boysenberry compote, a reduction of dark plum and ripe figs, and pure Amarena cherry. Flashes of vanilla and traces of minerality evolve into chalky tannins and a smooth lingering finish.

Three Wine Co. "CMZ" - Speaking of Orin Swift wines, when their Prisoner Red Blend was bought by industry giant Constellation Brands, there were many that thought the new, larger production version was missing something that the wine had back when Phinney produced it (although the current version probably has more fans than ever).  Winemaker Matt Cline thought to himself that he could crack the code of the "old" Prisoner and produce a Zin and Cab based blend that would appeal to its fans.  We think that adding in a dash of old vine Mourvedre (the "M" in CMZ) was a stroke of genius and could also stand for "Magic Ingredient" in this fantastic blend. 
Dark-as-night color leads to a bowl of black fruit that is expressive and juicy, while all of it is streaked with the evocative scent of lavender and violets. Then it’s time to hold onto your seat once you sip it. First, delivering a core of blackberry, black raspberry, and black cherry fruit, then together laced with black pepper and European dark-berry liqueur... it's an absolute showstopper!

Frias Family "Lady of the Dead" - This 1300 case production red is a blend of Cabernet & Syrah, with small amounts of Tempranillo and Graciano features a dark fruit core of bramble berries, Morello cherry, candied fruits, vanilla, cedar, allspice and tilled earth along with notes of leather. The soft fruit entry comes with spiced dried fruits, a nice acid and tannin balance to support the medium weighted body and fruits that linger and gently gain weight. The bright plum-laced concentrated fruit finishes with an uptick of spices and toasted oak.

750ml x 6

Please note that with the uncertainty around deliveries from our suppliers, it might become necessary to make comparable substitutions in our mixed packs as certain items run out.  Thanks for understanding!