I had a friend suggest that I create a wine guide to share some of my favorite bottles since let’s be honest– I love me some wine! Back at the beginning of my love for vino, I always reached for a bottle of chardonnay. I loved a good buttery option, like Rombauer. Now I’m all about red. I love a nice light Pinot Noir on occasion, but you’ll usually find me sipping on a full-bodied cab or a crisp rosé on a warm day. Below are my some of my favorite affordable go-to’s + a little bit about their notes.
CANNONBALL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 | Healdsburg, CA
The best. Flavors of cherry, chocolate, and roasted hazelnut, all contributing to tremendous depth, leading to a long and unstinting finish. It’s the easiest glass of red wine to sip on in my book. It’s the one I will always grab at the grocery store to ensure we are well stocked.
EDUCATED GUESS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013 | Napa Valley, CA
A very close tie to Cannonball! Another favorite (slightly more expensive), but is equally delicious. This wine is rich, ripe, and focused with juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, milk chocolate, and dusty notes all tied together with a creamy french vanilla middle and finish.
JOSH CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012 | Northern Coast, CA
Matt’s dad introduced us to this wine over the holidays, and it’s now a favorite. A forward, complex blend with ripe fruit flavors; black currant and spicy berry fruit with gentle oak nuances. It’s another great weeknight evening glass- and the price point is great.
SCRIBE WINERY PINOT NOIR 2012 | Sonoma County, CA
Matt and I joined Scribe’s wine club last year, and we love it. Not only is the wine great, but the atmosphere and sitting up on a hill overlooking the vineyards is a special one. Back to the wine– the Pinot is our favorite, it’s notes consist of cherry and spice aromas which show up on the nose, but are overwhelmed by smoky oak. Relatively light and easy to drink, with flavors of red cherry, cranberry, and strawberry. Silky in the mouth with a generous oak overlay.
SCRIBE WINERY ROSE OF PINOT NOIR 2014 | Sonoma County, CA
Another favorite from our wine club, they are known for their rosé! So delicious. This wine effuses flavors of fresh watermelon, grapefruit, blood orange, river rock, and sea salt. Perfect refreshing sip for warm spring/summer days!
STARMONT ROSE OF PINOT NOIR 2014 | California
This rosé is nice on the bank account and is a perfect light and refreshing glass of wine. It has a hue typical of Pinot Rosé, a lovely salmon color, with notes of pink and ripe peach. The aroma expresses notes of fresh strawberry, watermelon, and orange citrus. On the palate, the wine has medium acidity, a bright, full mid-palate, with flavors of strawberry and citrus, and a lengthy, clean finish.
Cheers! x
