Picked this up as part of a case of every day mixed wine. Pretty disappointed given what I’d heard.
This 2010, a blend of 44% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot is essentially a Meritage, though not labelled as one presumably because Calluna doesn’t pay the fee to belong to the alliance. Why bother?
At any rate, the wine is a striking dark purple color - super bright. (thanks Mr. PV & Malbec!) Decanted for about 90 minutes prior to dinner (mashed taters, steak, escarole and beans) the nose is dominated by new oak. Piney, resiny, cucumber laden American oak is unmistakeable and way out of balance. Under it all there’s some soft notes of black fruit.
On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, somewhat lean. 2010 was a cool, damp year in CA wine country and I know many Napa and Sonoma wine makers were concerned about their 2010s. This one seems a bit on the restrained side and relevant to the vintage. The dark fruits are there, but lack body and persistence and the raw wet lumber notes come through in spades.
As Gordon Ramsay would say: “What a shame. Damn.”
As my former grocery manager would say in referring to winemaker Dave Jeffrey; “Never trust a guy with two first names.” Not that that’s relevant, but remembering it made me chuckle.
C’est la vie. I suppose this wine is technically correct, but I can’t recommend it and it wouldnt be fair to pin a score on it. Say 80-84 points. About $25.
J