CALIFORNIA | $12
Concentrated cherry and raspberry fruit with lingering cassis, prominent chalk and notes of redwood, sage and pepper. Heavily fruit forward and sweet, oddly suggestive of grape lollipop flavors. Full bodied, focused, easy drinking, uncomplicated. But promiscuous? By any spelling, call it obvious: clever, yes — perhaps too clever — yet at the same time, simple itself. Harmless, however, at 12.5% alcohol. Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon. A good wine. (Reviewed 6/16/12)