Gifft
2014 Red Blend
Red Blend
California: Monterey County
Mission Briefing
The Gifft that keeps on giving
If you enjoyed our previous offering of Metz Road Chardonnay, you’ll love today’s Gifft 2012 Monterey County Red Blend. Both wines were made by Scheid Vineyards.
Today’s wine was made in collaboration with Kathie Lee Gifford. This Gifft 2014 Monterey County Red Blend is a delicious, wallet-friendly wine that delivers a surprisingly serious drinking experience.
Gifft wine is no mere celebrity endorsement, though. (We all know how those wines usually turn out!) This is, instead, a partnership between Kathie Lee Gifford and the famous Scheid Vineyards.
This wine is very balanced and a pleasure to inhale. Aromas of Bing cherry, blackberry, red plum and cranberry meld with sweet oak, subtle chocolate and sweet spice.
Sweet and juicy on the palate, with flavors of Cherry juice, raspberry, cranberry cocktail, sweet oak, cocoa, flinty mineral, mixed spice and subtle peppercorn.
With 10 estate vineyards in their care and four decades of experience in Monterey County winegrowing, Scheid Family Wines was a natural partner for Kathie Lee to bring her wine brand to market.
Scheid’s winemaker, Dave Nagengast, is in full command of the winemaking process. Dave consults with many wineries, including Scheid, as well as heading up his own Nagengast Estate Vineyard and Cinquain Cellars.
We’ve been Giffted with access to quite a few cases of this surprisingly delicious wine, but still, don’t expect it to last the day.
If you’re looking for a light-hearted, easy-sipping wine that won’t break the bank, this wine is an easy choice. Enjoy!
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Dark scarlet at the heart of the wine, pretty ruby red at the edges. After a swirl, tall, chubby tears cling to the glass wall, descending slowly downward. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Bing cherry, blackberry, red plum and cranberry meld with sweet oak, subtle chocolate and sweet spice. |
| Taste: | Cherry juice, raspberry, cranberry cocktail, sweet oak, cocoa, flinty mineral, mixed spice and subtle peppercorn. |
| Finish: | The fruits go medium long, while spice, cocoa, and peppercorn seem to persist for a long time, eventually fading to reveal an easy, semi-plush dryness. |
| Pairing: | Enjoy this sweet summer sipper with cheeses like blue cheese or stilton, meat topped pizzas, or sticky BBQ ribs, BBQ chicken or a delicious flourless chocolate cake. |
What the Winery Says
- Winemaker
- Dave Nagengast
- Varietal
- Red Blend
- Blend
- 47% Merlot
- ~
- 26% Petite Sirah
- ~
- 14% Syrah
- ~
- 8% Cabernet Sauvignon
- ~
- 3% Riesling
- ~
- 2% Muscat Canelli
- Vintage
- 2014
- Appellation
- Monterey County
- Harvest Date
- September 2 - October 27, 2014
- Bottling date
- April 11, 2016
- Abv
- 13.5%
- TA
- 0.59 g/l
- pH
- 3.64
- BRIX
- 24.3
- Aging
- 12 months
- Barrels
- American and Hungarian oak