A by Acacia $10.99

Wine of Week 06-12-12

A by Acacia

California

Red Blend $10.99

The blend is your friend these days in the wine biz. The flexibility blending different varietals affords winemakers gives a great advantage in creating wines which may not be world beaters, but can certainly be hard to beat in the value category.  This entry level red from Acacia Vineyards, an acclaimed producer of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Carneros AVA of Napa Valley, definitely hits the mark. This wine is not based on Burgundian varietals, but rather more Rhone in nature at 85% Syrah, 10% Merlot, 2% Grenache, 2% Petite Sirah and 1% Zinfandel.  With grapes sourced from California’s Central Coast, this wine was aged in a combination of French & American oak barrels for about 15 months. The wine shows what you would expect of a Rhone red which has benefited from some oak regimen, with notes of black cherries, tea, sage, dark chocolate, raspberries,&  blueberries.  Medium in weight, & versatile as a food wine, this tasty value is great to bring along to your neighbor’s backyard BBQ.

A RED