Big, Red & Delicious Wines

One topic of discussion that everyone seems to want to chime in on (including this newsletter, of course) is what’s “trendy” in wine these days. Look in three different places and you’ll probably get three different answers - light, chillable reds; large-format bottles of bubbly; port, sherry, madeira, or any number of maligned and overlooked dessert wines... Sometimes at the end of the day, though, all I really want to do is drink something big, red, and delicious. There is a unique satisfaction that comes from opening a bottle and pouring a deeply colored and explosively aromatic glass of wine, full of dark fruits and a thousand sublayers of flavor to unpack. The kind of wine that evolves deliciously over the course of the evening, the last sip of the bottle a totally different experience from the first.

Wine trends have their place - I am certainly guilty of attempting to follow and tap into them myself - but let’s not overlook the pleasure of a great, big, California red blend. These wines are the kind of classic that never goes out of style. Below I’m highlighting two bottles that fit the bill and that I think will delight anyone who just wants something great to drink.

2017 Ink Grade, 'Andosol' $75

Grown on the slopes of iconic Howell Mountain and drawing inspiration from the historic field blends of California, ‘Andosol’ is 88% Zinfandel and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced organically and biodynamically, it has a beautiful deep purple-red color and an intensely perfumed nose of brambleberries, licorice, and fresh herbs. Fresh and juicy on the palate with firm but well-integrated tannins, this is a wine meant to be enjoyed in its youth, but with a depth and intensity that will age well.

2020 Daou 'Soul of A Lion' $162

Daou Vineyards has recently become a darling of the California wine scene by creating excellent luxury wines from the historically less-desirable Paso Robles region. Soul of A Lion is a supremely age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux blend from Daou Mountain in the Adelaida District. Robert Parker, who gave this wine 95 points, described it by saying: “It has a deep ruby color and pure aromas of blackcurrants, tobacco, truffle and thyme with touches of leather and graphite. The full-bodied palate has a pleasantly rustic texture and savory character, finishing with tobacco accents. Beautiful, outstanding wine.”


Did one (or more) of these wines pique your interest? There are multiple ways to order with us! If you place your purchase through our online store, we’ll be happy to package and hold your bottles for you to pick up at your convenience. You can also email and ask us to set aside any bottles you’re interested in picking up at a later date. If you have any questions or would like to make special arrangements such as shipping, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (919) 644-1243.