Clear ruby with clear edges. Big gagging rotten-egg and vegetal funk on first pour, gracefully blows off to warm, still, overtly-ripe black cherry Jolly-Rancher fruit. A swirl brings the funk back.
This is a Grocery Outlet experiment for 5 or 6 bucks, sourced from Paso and produced and bottled in Los Angeles. Fairly crisp, sweet cinnamon/nutmeg over a candied lollipop base. Incredibly thin in the mouth. Completely lacking in anything even remotely *Cab* or *Paso* or substantially *interesting wine*. Flat and acidic, completely un-elegant or sophisticated. Watery and decidedly un-fruited. A dark burnt-leather-tinged tannin finishes things off.
If you are used to paying 12-20 dollars for corporate, supermarket middle-shelf Cabernets, this will be an outstanding value and will prove to be an easy-drinking, non-thinking bottle. The only plus I would give it is a lack of cloying, fruit-FWD fruit many of those are burdened with in an attempt to woo the lower-shelf shoppers. Other than that, a complete waste of even 5 dollars. It falls FAR below the quality of the Merlot I also tried. This wine doesn’t offend terribly, but Oh Dear Dog how boring.
2011 QUARTZVILLE Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 13.1
