Today’s juicy, easy-drinking blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with splashes of Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Merlot was made by our good friend, Chris Taddei. You know Chris’s work with his SuperSonoman and Hensteeth labels. He’s also the genius behind the incredible Geometry Syrah featured here last year. This is the lowest price we’ve seen from Chris and we must say, we’re impressed.

Rich and full on the nose, with bold aromas of black cherry juice, blackberry, chocolate covered cherry, red plum, subtle spice, subtle fennel and a hint of black tea leaf. On the palate, this wine is as balanced as the nose portends, with black cherry, blueberry, black raspberry, spice, twigs, dried fig, subtle fennel, a hint of thyme and subtle slate.

This juicy, delicious wine carries the North Coast AVA (American Viticultural Area ) designation, making it a blend of grapes from three of the North Coasts regions.

The North Coast AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the state of California that encompasses grape-growing regions in six counties that are located north of San Francisco: Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano. This large appellation covers more than 3,000,000 acres and includes a number of smaller sub-appellations that all share the common ecological characteristic of having its weather affected by the cool fog and breezes of the Pacific Ocean.

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Here’s what the wine press has to say.

91 Points - Chris Sawyer - “When North Coast became an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1983, it allowed talented winemakers the ability to create high-quality red wine blends with premium fruit sourced from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Marin and Solano counties. To honor the 35-year anniversary of the North Coast appellation, the new release of the Flying Start Proprietary Red is crafted with premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, as well as small percentages of Zinfandel and Sangiovese to add more spicy and tangy notes to the finished wine.

In the glass, this charming proprietary blend opens up with lofty aromas of dark fruits, blackberry jam, dried cranberries, blood orange zest, tobacco, and leather. On the palate, the silky texture expands with lively notes of fresh berries, ripe plum and black currants intermingled with subtle nuances of savory spice and subtle oak. This juicy mouthfeel is balanced with sweet tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, lingering finish. Fruit-driven and ready to please, this is a great wine to pair with a wide range of cuisine or to simply sip and savor with friends and family anytime of the day.

Food pairing suggestions: hard cheeses, charcuterie, roasted veggies, gourmet pizzas, pulled-pork sandwiches, pasta with fresh pesto, barbequed chicken, grilled meats, and hearty stews.”