You gotta love it. Even in a ‘challenging’ vintage, this wine screams Togni. Rustic red fruits, loads of acidity, and a hint of herbs/bell pepper on the tannic finish. Medium bodied and very young still, but an excellent wine that is already very approachable (especially for Togni standards). My local Total Wine actually has these for $99, which is already a great deal…but it almost feels like stealing when I add on the 20% off Winery direct coupon! No harm checking in now but there are most certainly better days ahead.
*Side note, i don’t know how this could be possible…but there is literally no abv listed on the label. I’ve been looking for 5 minutes as i felt like I was going crazy…but it’s not there!?!
Hey Rich, I don’t have it memorized but if anyone labels the wine as “Table Wine” then they don’t have to put an ABV on the label. I am sure a winemaker or such can provide more precise information. I have seen this now and then on various Californian wines.
Yep, i hear ya! I hadn’t purchased anything in quite a while but still get email coupons from time to time. After this purchase they emailed me a ‘nice to see you again’ and gave me another 20% off! Will probably go grab a couple more tomorrow
Ahhh, gotcha Marc! I recall hearing similar things but for some reason i thought that was during the 70’s. But you must be spot on because there is definitely no abv on the label (I’ve literally looked it over like 20 times at this point, ha!)
Yep, i think you’re right! Here’s what my good friend Chat GPT had to say:
If a Napa Valley wine is labeled as a “Red Table Wine”, it can avoid listing the exact ABV on the label, but only under specific conditions:
Alcohol Content Range: The wine must have an alcohol by volume (ABV) between 7% and 14%. This is because the term “Table Wine” is a legally defined category under U.S. regulations, which allows wines within that ABV range to use this generic labeling.
ABV Tolerance: By using “Red Table Wine” instead of an exact ABV percentage, the wine is indicating that it falls somewhere within the 7-14% ABV range. No precise ABV percentage is required, as long as the wine stays within this legal range.
Important Considerations:
For Wines Above 14% ABV: If the wine exceeds 14% ABV, it cannot be labeled as “Table Wine” and must include the specific ABV on the label.
Other Labeling Requirements: Even with the “Red Table Wine” label, the wine must still meet all other TTB labeling requirements, including identifying the varietal, producer, origin, and sulfite declaration.
This method allows some flexibility for winemakers, particularly when dealing with wines that naturally fluctuate in alcohol content from year to year. However, it doesn’t provide a loophole for high-alcohol wines, which still must disclose the ABV if they exceed 14%.
