Dark non-staining ruby with clear-purple edges.  CRAZY vegetal.  Piles of mint and eucalyptus, bell pepper, cucumber… raw split butternut squash.  If ‘vegetal’ is the descriptor 90-point wines “MUST LACK” then this is clearly a loser.  I happen to like it.  Unfortunately, it blows off into a rather disappointing stale-water sort of raisin-box bouquet with over-ripe fruit nuances.  Almost a jelly-donut, baked fruit-bread deadness.

Fairly boring fruit in the entry with curls of bitterness.  And still that glycerol-ey conjured fruit.  Quite obese, as the acid never really shines through the bitterness.  Not a dreadful wine–and the price-point is definitely there–but nothing seriously compelling about it… anywhere.

2011 DONATI FAMILY VINEYARD Cabernet Sauvignon Paicines San Benito County Central Coast California 13.7

www.donatifamilyvineyard.com