Thank you, Nils Venge, for giving us a taste of your wine - at a price doesn’t break the bank.

Today’s budget-minded Saddleback Cellars 2011 Oakville Rancher Red was our 2016 Wine Spies Intrigue Award winner for Agent Crush’s Top Selection and a bold, food-friendly wine that will thrill and impress you - without breaking the bank.

Stock up, you’ll want plenty on hand.

Nils Venge, who is America’s first 100 point winemaker, is widely recognized as one of the founding fathers of the contemporary American wine trade. During his career, Nils has held winemaking posts at Charles Krug Winery, Sterling Vineyards, Villa Mount Eden, Inception and Groth, for whom he earned that perfect 100 point Score - back in 1985.

Bold aromas leap from the glass, making its way to your nose before you ever lift the glass to inhale aromas of black cherry, smoky cranberry, blueberry, tobacco, dried earth, toasty oak, chocolate covered cherry, grilled plum and mixed brown spice.

Flavors are bold and powerful, with black cherry juice, blackberry preserve, dried tobacco leaf, smoky cherry, grilled fig, tobacco leaf, bold oak, brown spice and slate minerals.

Today’s wine is very highly recommended. And limited… so we hope that you’ll reserve yours soon!