Nothing too subtle about this Cab blend, except maybe the price - (40% off for all you cool cats.)

Just a bold, plush, and immensely quaffable 92 POINT banger from our friends at Shannon Family (Shannon Ridge, Clay Shannon, Steele, Buck Shack, Ovis…) so, what else would one expect from one of the best bang for your buck collective of wineries we know??

Mendocino and Lake counties have been those forgotten stepchildren of Napa Valley, albeit in recent years they have grown into powerhouses. There’s a good reason Andy Beckstoffer, Fred Schrader and other prolific names invest up there - the rich soils and rugged terrain make for perfect growing conditions while tending the vines cost MUCH less. However, The Shannons have been making wine from these parts for years, together with partners like the Giannecchinis, they farm thousands of acres.

The grapes come from vines planted over 100 years ago, tucked away on a benchland in Ukiah Valley’s Talmage subregion. The blend pulls together 68% Cab, 22% Sangiovese, and 10% Merlot into one big, bold, lip-smackingly delicious concoction. Like a mixed-berry pie smashed in your face, but way more pleasant. Blueberry cobbler, cherry cordials, brambly blackberry, and a scoop of toasty vanilla with exotic spices pumped up with some sweet oak. It’s a plush fruit bomb no doubt yet carries itself well thanks to a clean line of acidity running through and meaty tannins holding it all together.

Borderline too serious a red for its humble twenty-something price today, (Napa, eat your heart out) this ‘Bordeaux meets Tuscany meets Mendo’ red is a match made in heaven with hearty Italian fare, given the Giannecchini legacy!

Too easy to drink a bottle to your dome, and we bet you’ll be searching for one last drop when empty.

92 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“Bright red-fruit aromas lead to deeper, darker blueberry and black-cherry flavors in this complex, moderately oaked wine. Fine-grained tannins give a meaty texture, as hints of vanilla, cigar box and mint keep asking for another sip.”