Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- ruby, legs
Nose: clean, low intensity, stewed red fruits, cherry, vanilla, spice, confected
Mouth: off-dry, med- body, med- acid, med alcohol, low tannin, short length, light flavour intensity
All in all: Acceptable quality: easy drinking and inoffensive. The light flavour intensity is not balanced and comes across as dilute. The lack of balance is evident from a low acid structure with a bit of back-palate tartness. And a short length.
Identity guess: Inexpensive red blend from British Columbia; NV.
Is really: Inexpensive red blend from California; NV.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 3]

This is one of those wines that really could’ve been from anywhere because it had no soul. I’m all too familiar with the vague red blend that tastes like a red crayon dipped in water. It reminds me of other wines of the similar vein: Domaine d’Or, Carlo Rossi – although I find that Carlo Rossi has a bit more of a distinct cherry cough syrup flavour.

The reason that this stands out is because there is no marketing for this wine except by price. Valid: there is no website, no grapes on the label mentioned, and it’s found in a large proportion of BC Liquor Stores. What more do you need, and what’s the point, anyways? It’s best that these guys don’t market anything – maybe that would probably hurt them in the long run.

Producer: Franciscan Vineyards
Designation: California Red
Region: United States
Sub-Region: California
Variety: who knows
ABV: 12%
Vintage: NV
Tasted: April 24, 2013
Price: $7.29