The 2011 Bota Box RedVolution 3L is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petite Sirah sourced from several California grape growing AVA’s. The box is made from recycled paper, no chemical based glues were used, the ink is soy based and the internal bag is Mylar, no nasty plastic chemicals. The paper is even sourced from certified managed forests and every component of the packaging is recyclable. Once opened the wine (3 liters is equivalent to 4 bottles) will last for up to 4 weeks. Just remember, for a wine to taste its best it must have contact with air and for the 3L box to last it has to keep the wine from air, so when you pour a glass from the spigot it might come out a little “tight”. Be sure to swirl the wine and give it a little time to “open”. Many people think the wine inside box wines is different (worse) than the wine in bottles, it’s not, it is just that they never gave the wine time to open properly and never experienced all the flavors. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The color is a black cherry red with a strawberry halo. The nose is cherry, plum, cranberry, cocoa powder and a little vanilla. This wine has a very silky mouthfeel, the flavors start off soft and smooth and transition nicely to extracted and juicy. It starts off with blackberry and strawberry, then comes a little vanilla custard. The mid palate brings black cherry, ripe plum, sweet blueberry and a slight whiff of curry spice. The tannins are smooth, the acidity is very balanced and the finish is very respectably long.
I write about wine 5 or 6 days a week, so the last thing I want is a box of 4 bottles of the same wine, with so many new wines to sample I will never get to the box in the refrigerator. What the Bota Box RedVolution is, is the perfect, easy solution to serving wine at a backyard get together. A box of RedVolution and a box of White and you have 40 glasses of patio party wine ready to go. The box lists for $19.99 and is often discounted, so you can provide your guests all the wine they will need for under $40.
