Not sure what going on here… St. Clement’s been shuttered for a few years, but perhaps someone bought the brand? Cheap bottle, cheap cork, cheap capsule… the words ‘Vintner’s Collection’ is always a great buzz-kill and ‘California’ goes against their back-label verbiage of “high-end selections from the finest sites”. And… it’s a red blend with no ingredients. So there’s THAT. Bottled by Wine Tiger of Sonoma, so the questions just keep reeling. Medium body ruby with a definite purple glow, a dull, molasses nose tired and flatulent.

It tastes better than it smells: thin but acidic, a churlish swirl of bitter structure coming in early. Rather crisp on the palate, hot-spicy nuances combining with easy tannin for a slightly syrah-influenced BDX melange simple but workable. Not a terrible wine by any means: it delivers a modicum of middling interest throughout while never gloriously expounding on any pure points. Smells like Caymus, tastes like cheap Napa Valley and entirely forgettable. Dry, tannic finish is its compelling factor, and for the price, not a bad drinker. Not something to write your mum about, and aging is out of the question.

2021 ST. CLEMENT ‘Vintner’s Collection’ Red Blend California 14.5

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