Fulsome, oak-edged, sweet, and spicy, this is a red for those who want a ripe California wine with a suggestion of Pinot Noir. The robe is a dense black-purple, and the fragrance is plush with spice and vanilla, cedar and coffee-steeped black cherries. It’s almost chocolaty, too, with a soupçon of cola. In sum: big, dense, chewy; spice, chocolate, fruit.
14.8% abv | $19 (sample)