Marietta "Old Vine Red" Lot # 45

Non-Vintage / Proprietary Blend
California / $11.00

I have been peppered with e-mail from wine lovers looking for a cheap, tasty everyday red under $15. I am not sure if all of them understand that quest for this type of wine is what we ALL look for everyday.

Marietta Cellars has been around a long time. They produce some world-class wines and have a gift for blending different varietals with wonderful results. The "Old Vine" is non-vintage. It may be a blend of juice and/or wine of different years to produce a consistent flavor profile expected from the public. Instead of attaching a vintage year to each bottle, Marietta assigns a lot number. This years lot number is #45. It is a mix of Zin, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Cab, Alicante and some Italian varietals.

It is ruby in color, a bit lighter then a good Zin. It is full of blackberry and Brier fruit on the nose. When tasting, it offers multiple layers of flavor. Brier fruits, spice and a bit of pepper on the finish balance the sweet mouth filling fruit. It is a tad on the sweet side, but not overly so.

It is a great everyday bottle of wine, and easy to quaff. It is so hard to find a wine in this price range that does not is some way disappoint. Pick some up for dinner, grilling, cheese....anything your heart desires. For $11ish a bottle....what do you have to lose?

I am attending a Bordeaux tasting at La Chaumiere in Georgetown, D.C. with some friends tonight. I will try to report on what we tasted sometime this weekend. Until then, Cheers!