Recommendation: Simply FANTASTIC California wine at a grocery store price.
Winery/Producer: Produced & Bottled by Hartley Ostini Vintners; Buellton, California.
Grape Variety: Blend: 85% Merlot, 7% Valdiguie, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc.
Geographic Region, Appellation: Central Coast, California.
Vintage: 2012
Price: $13.95
Purchased From: Woodland Hills Wine Company, Woodland Hills, California.
Paired With: Assorted cheeses.
Tasting:
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He said: Opened 15-minutes before drinking. Clear, inky dark garnet color with a light purple rim. Sumptuous damp earth, leather, spring floral, tobacco and plum aromas. Soft and velvety plum and blackberry taste that gently slides into a long finish that’s slightly bitter, then ends with a dry, dusty after taste. Paired with the cheese (especially the soft goat and brie) it was MEMORABLE. Drinking alone it was an OUTSTANDING inexpensive wine. What started out as the Hitching Post Restaurant “House Red” turns out to be a wine that easily goes into a category we call a Quality wine at a Bargain price. Even with the freshly opened bottle and the 14.5% alcohol it was never an issue. We bought this as a lark because it was from the Hitching Post Restaurant (made famous for its role in the 2004 film “Sideways“) and for us it turned out to be a winner with our after-dinner cheese tasting. And maybe it earns the best complement I can make…it didn’t taste like a BIG, BOLD. CALIFORNIA red wine!!! The bouquet was remarkable and the dominant Merlot had a wonderful soft freshness and lush tannins that made it so easy drinking. We’re both jumping up and down, this was simply FANTASTIC California wine at a grocery store price.
She said:
Alcohol: 14.5%
UPC Code: 7 53182 38114 5
Imported by: NA
Photo from The Hitching Post.