2010 Apothic Red, California

Today's post is a throw back to the days when A and I drank all our wines together...or at least a majority of them. Hope you enjoy!

Tonight we had a dinner party and drank two wines, a white and a red. The eclectic dinner party consisted of chicken tacos with homemade Pico de Gallo and avocado cream served with corn bread, stuffed jalapenos, Caesar salad, pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing, and of course wine! We will deal with the white later, but the red was a delightfully packaged red from California called Apothic Red. This 2010 blend is described as “a truly unique wine experience,” and it uses “The brambly spice of Zinfandel, dark fruit flavors of Syrah, the bold notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smooth elegance of Merlot to create this captivating red blend.” Our friend P picked this at the LCBO. Through a friend’s recommendation and encouragement, he has just begun drinking red wine. He picked this one because of its gorgeous label and a description that can only be described as rather flowery. It is available at the LCBO for $15.95 a bottle and opinions were… mixed but complex, like the wine itself.

M – A REAL mouthful! This red has a sort of woodsy flavour. When I drink it, I imagine a library filled with leather-bound tomes and well-aged club chairs, filled with sophisticated men with grey touched temples sipping this blend. The induction of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot make a complex taste that will leave you trying to put your finger on just what exactly is going on. This would not be my first suggestion for a wine-newby but definitely worth giving a sip if you’re looking for something more complicated than your average house red.

L – You do get the tastes of chocolate and Vanilla that the bottle tells you you will. I’d pair it with something strong and savoury, either salty or sweet, but not an astringent-type flavour. Nothing with an acrid or bitter detergent type flavours would go well with it.

A – This was a very purpley wine. I thought it tastes like vanilla and brandy. I’d say it has a carmely nose (aka in non-wine speak it smells like caramel). It was a little smokey or toasty to me, which I liked. Our guests all thought that it went well with the cornbread.