Nearly opaque purple-plum color. This red contains 16% Petite Sirah and a splash of Carignane. Whiffs of black pepper play off of jammy blackberry, black cherry, chocolate and spice. There is a brashness to the fruit upon initial entry onto the palate, picking up some fine-grained tannic grip toward the back. A great match for barbecued meats, or enjoy on its own as an aperitif.
MSRP: $24 (July 2012)
Wine Lines rating: 89