The Rare Red 4 Grape Blend is 43% Syrah, 37% Barbera, 11% Zinfandel and 9% Sangiovese sourced from vineyards in more than one California grape growing AVA. This is a non-vintage wine, often winemakers use grapes in their blends from more than one vintage, to allow the blend and the flavor profile to be consistent year after year. The Rare Red is produced by Scotto Cellars which is part of ADS Wines. None of the grapes in this blend is particularly rare, but you do not see these grapes mixed together very often. So it is your typical Rhone, Piedmont, Lodi and Tuscan Blend. It shouldn’t taste like the same old thing and you should be able to find it for under ten bucks. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The color is clear raspberry jelly. The nose is a mix of red berries and a slightly medicinal scent. This wine has an uncommon flavor profile, it starts smooth and then builds to a nice rough edge. It tastes of tart cranberry, milk chocolate and plum. The mid palate shows Altoids spice, orange zest, softer black cherry and POM Wonderful. The tannins are soft, the acidity is subdued and the finish lasts a respectable length of time.
With under $10 wine, you just want them to be competent, real wines, to get something that is also unique is an unexpected bonus. The Rare Red 4 Grape Blend is an easy to drink, well priced, but very different take on a California everyday Red blend.
