Cline Cellars, based in Contra Costa County, California, is located just to the east of San Francisco and Berkeley. That region has warm weather and low moisture, and the vineyards themselves are in somewhat sandy soil - all of which produces wines that have high aromatic properties, pale colors, and low tannic bite. This is the oft-mentioned concept of "terroir" - how the land, climate, and external factors affect wine. It's not always spot on, but this gives me an inkling of what's in this bottle.
Well, upon opening, it projects an aroma so strong I can smell it across the room. Hard to tell precisely what it is, though - definitely fruity. Looks like terroir indicators were right.
Well, upon opening, it projects an aroma so strong I can smell it across the room. Hard to tell precisely what it is, though - definitely fruity. Looks like terroir indicators were right.
As it poured, it generated lots of purple bubbles. It's red in the glass, with a bright red meniscus line around the rim of the wine.
Next time you pour out some wine, put a white card behind the glass and check out the edge of the wine as the light hits it. You may have to tilt it. As wine ages, it can change colors, which is evident in this meniscus line since there's just a tiny sliver of wine - light can easily pass through it. Older wines may show a brown edge, called "bricking." Today's wine is blood red.
Next time you pour out some wine, put a white card behind the glass and check out the edge of the wine as the light hits it. You may have to tilt it. As wine ages, it can change colors, which is evident in this meniscus line since there's just a tiny sliver of wine - light can easily pass through it. Older wines may show a brown edge, called "bricking." Today's wine is blood red.
Taste-wise, the main feature of this wine is the dark, soft fruit delivered in one of the silkiest textures I've had in a wine. It's not sugary at all, or harsh or tannic, just soft and smooth and delivers nice dark grape / plum flavors. Long lingering aftertaste, with a little bit of sweetness - the first showing of sugar in the entire glass.
Overall, an interesting bottle and very dark and silky. I paired this with my homemade sriracha mac n' cheese - made with Swiss, Gruyere, and Kerrygold butter topped with pan-fried panko and fresh basil from my garden. The depth of the fruit in the wine was a nice foil to the spicy sriracha. I should also note that this wine is rather "hot" - that is, alcoholic. At 15.00% ABV, it's higher than most wines you might find in the store. However, this fact isn't readily evident while drinking the wine. I was initially worried it might be heartburn-inducing...turns out it is quite soft.
Overall, an interesting bottle and very dark and silky. I paired this with my homemade sriracha mac n' cheese - made with Swiss, Gruyere, and Kerrygold butter topped with pan-fried panko and fresh basil from my garden. The depth of the fruit in the wine was a nice foil to the spicy sriracha. I should also note that this wine is rather "hot" - that is, alcoholic. At 15.00% ABV, it's higher than most wines you might find in the store. However, this fact isn't readily evident while drinking the wine. I was initially worried it might be heartburn-inducing...turns out it is quite soft.
You can find Cline Cellars' stuff around quite frequently (including at Trader Joe's for $15.99, Wine.com for $16.99, and Cline's own website for $20.99 at club pricing). Interestingly, this wine has mixed reviews online. Some think it's great and perfect, others really get turned off by it. I felt it was fine, and if you like plum / dark berry flavors in wine, give this a shot.
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