The 2011 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Coastal Crush Red is a blend of 67% Syrah, 24% Merlot and 9% Malbec sourced from vineyards, primarily in the Monterey County, San Benito County and Paso Robles grape growing areas in California’s Central Coast AVA. This wine was aged in French and American oak barrels for 10 months and the alcohol content is 13.5%. I found the Coastal Crush Red selling for $8.99 and it can be found on the internet from $7 to $12.
The color is a deep black cherry red with a salmon pink halo. The nose is muted, there is a little cocoa powder, oak vanilla, dark berries and a little curry spice. This is a medium bodied Red blend with ripe juicy flavors and a touch of spice. The Coastal Crush starts with extracted blackberry, slightly sweet blueberry, dark chocolate and French vanilla. The mid palate brings some tart cherry, a soft slap of Altoids spice and a finishing touch of raspberry. The tannins have a slight bite to them, nothing out of balance, just enough to let you know they are there. The acidity is bright and helps the finish linger for a while.
The Robert Mondavi Private Selection Coastal Crush Red is a solid, inexpensive, tasty Red wine. A good choice to pair with burgers, pizza or stews, simple foods that do well with a flavorful Red that has a good bit of structure. The Coastal Crush Red is an easy to like wine, try it this Sunday instead of the usual beer, while watching your teams NFL game.
