2020 Fieldhouse 301 Red Wine

 

This was our first experience with the wines offered by Scout & Cellar of Texas.  They seem to have a little bit of something for just about everyone, especially if you are budget-minded, as most of their offerings are in the $19 - $36 range.  At those prices you can find a daily drinker, no doubt!  This wine is the 2020 Fieldhouse 301 Red Wine (blend) from California.  You would typically find Cabernet Sauvignon in a red blend, but this one is a combination of Zinfandel (48%), Merlot (23%), Petite Sirah (12%), Carignan (9%) and Barbera (8%).   You don't find Carignan in too many California wines, even as a blending grape, so that was interesting to us.  This wine had a great medium purple color with blackberry, coffee bean and menthol nose.  With a lighter-to-medium mouthfeel, flavors of sweet blackberry preserves, roasted coffee beans, pepper and red licorice.  This is not a sugar bomb (if we have given that impression) but it is on the sweeter side.  The really cool things about this wine is that it is vegan, unfined and unfiltered.  Scout & Cellar prides itself on offering wines that are more "hands off" and clean.  We like that idea and we enjoyed this wine!

ABV:  13.9%

California

Suggested retail price:  $24.00

Drink The Bottles score:  87/100

2019 Cline Family Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel

 

Zinfandel is a favorite red varietal of ours, especially as we head into colder weather for fall and winter.  We find that it generally pairs very well with stews, chili and red meat.  The 2019 Cline Family Cellars Ancient Vines Zinfandel is a fine example a wine that can be enjoyed over a great conversation or a nice dinner.  We actually drank this solo and then again with meatloaf and it was a hit!  The vines that create the fruit for this wine are over 100 years old out of Contra Costa County, creating a wine that is both reliable and tasty.  Medium red in color, dominating aromas of cooked strawberries and dried spices fill the glass.  The same follows through with the flavors, adding in toasted flat bread with vanilla bean and plum.  We think this is drinking very well right now but may be even a little bit better in another 12 - 18 months.  

ABV:  14.5%

Contra Costa County, CA

Suggested retail price:  $25.00

Drink The Bottles score:  90+/100

2017 The Shepherd Estate Red

 

It is always a pleasure working with a winery partner year over year and having the fortune to taste the same label but differing vintages.  We last tasted this wine for the 2014 vintage.  The 2017 The Shepherd Estate Red is once again a blend of Syrah, Zinfandel and Tempranillo.  All of the grapes are sources from estate vines and the mixture of each grape differs each year, depending on the quality of the grapes and the overall desired affect.  This wine is a dark inky purple in the glass and (although tough to see in the picture) the cork is nearly black and sexy.  Solid color to the edge of the glass.  Blueberry pie, cedar bark and plum primarily on the nose.  Baked cherry cobbler, vanilla bean and cremè de cassis are lovely flavors with hints of black pepper wrapped up in lush tannin.  These three grapes are always a favorite and this wine drinks very, very easily now or you can hold it for 5+ years.  Most of the wines are tasted unescorted by food, but this would pair well with a hearty cut tomahawk steak with seasoned potatoes.  And, as always, this wine is an incredible bargain at just $25 suggested retail.

ABV:  14.2%

Napa Valley, Carneros, CA

Suggested retail price:  $25.00

Drink The Bottles score:  89/100

2016 1000 Stories Zinfandel

When we think of red wine, we commonly think French or American oak barrel aging.  We wouldn't normally think bourbon barrel aging in present day when the aforementioned are so prevalent and readily available, certainly more than they were 50 years ago.  But aging Zinfandel in new and used bourbon barrels in small batches is exactly what 1000 Stories Wines is doing.  The use of used barrels is smart because the barrels provide a mellowness that makes this wine ripe for immediate drinking and the barrels also add some character to the wine.  Not overly complex but beautiful in a medium red color, this California Zinfandel exhibits primarily bright cherry aromas with spicebox and vanilla.  In the mouth is a softer Zinfandel with flavors of cherry, strawberry hard candy, carmel and hints of vanilla syrup.  This is a fun and very drinkable wine that I personally wouldn't pair with a food due to it's softness and sweet flavor.  It packs an alcohol content that is nearly 16% but it is so mellow that it isn't a distraction.  Pick up a bottle and enjoy it for yourself!

ABV:  15.5%

California

Suggested retail price:  $18.99

Drink The Bottles score:  86/100

2015 Avalon Red Blend

Did you know that most wine consumers spend less that $12 on average for a bottle and that over 90% of the wine is consumed on the day that it is purchased?  In other words, most people are buying wine at the grocery store or wine store, taking it home and enjoying it.  And with a name like Drink The Bottles I can't argue with that logic.  But often, people will look at those same low priced bottles and not look past the end of their nose if they are looking for a quality, delicious wine.  And that would be a HUGE mistake by passing this one up.  The 2015 Avalon Winery BLEND is a red wine that includes some of my favorite varietals, which is probably why I am so drawn to it.  It is a beautiful plum skinned color in the glass with strong and welcoming aromas of fresh blackberries, barn wood and hints of licorice.  Made up of Zinfandel (54%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Tannat (20%) and Petite Sirah (5%), the flavors include very juicy blueberries and blackberries, toast and mildly peppered tar.  This wine is bolder than most would expect (including present company).  It doesn't linger but finishes solidly and I'm going to certify this an FGW - Flippin' Good Wine!

ABV:  13.5%

California

Suggested retail price:  $11.99

Drink The Bottles score:  89/100

2014 The Shepherd Estate Red

Once in awhile you pop and cork and get so excited because of the incredible color that is displayed on the cork.  When I pulled the cork out of this 2014 The Shepherd Estate Red wine, I knew I was in for a real good time!  Seriously, it was incredible.  Check out the picture HERE and I know you'll appreciate what I'm talking about.  So, I was completely unfamiliar with Shepherd Wines until I received this bottle.  Shepherd Wines is an offspring of my friends at Truchard Vineyards.  They currently offer 2 wines under the Shepherd label - a Sauvignon Blanc and this Estate Red.

Seldom do I open a wine, roll my eyes skyward and then clinch a fist in pleasure before tasting the wine.  But that is exactly what has happened here.  Before I get into that, I have to tell you that I literally cannot wrap my head around the fact that this wine has a $20 price point.  This wine is clearly worth at least twice that price and with just over 1000 cases produced, this is a wine that won't last long once the word gets out.  This could be the viral wine of this season!  (Clinches fist again.)  This beauty is a blend of Syrah, Zinfandel and Tempranillo.  No wonder I love this wine so much.  These are 3 of my favorite reds.  I think Zinfandel and Tempranillo get overlooked all too often by most people in the wine world.  But we have a love for each other.

Medium red with dark purple hues in the glass, incredibly aromatic blackberry, baking spices, old barn hay mount, vanilla and clove on the nose.  So much going on here and as I was swirling, the aromas literally wafted right up out of the glass before I stuck my nose in.  I knew this was going to be something special - and it is.  Juicy, jammy and mouth-watering flavors of blackberry, barn wood, cherry cobbler and hints of a marinated, lightly peppered brisket.  When I give an overall score on wines, one thing I have to consider other than the obvious (presentation, aromas, flavor, finish) is the value.  And I can't stress this enough.   Twenty bucks for this wine is a flippin' steal!

ABV:  14.2%

Napa Valley, Carneros, California

Suggested retail price:  $20.00

Drink The Bottles score:  95/100