Charles & Charles are Charles Bieler (Three Thieves, among others) and Charles Smith (K Vintners). This is a 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blend. The grapes are all grown on the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley, Washington in vineyards owned by the Milbrandt Family (for more on these vineyards http://tinyurl.com/2g7ja6k ). The Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in French oak barrels, while the Syrah is aged in stainless steel vats.
Now this is pretty cool, an American wine sourced from a single appellation, with some of the grapes seeing expensive French oak, all for under ten bucks. You see these types wines coming from South America or Spain, but it’s not easy for American Winemakers to pull this off. It’s safe to say Charles & Charles know what they are doing.
Dark clear ruby red in color. Dark fruit, leather and bitter dark chocolate on the nose. The blend of the oaked Cab and the unoaked Syrah works really well. The dark fruit and chocolate of the Cab hits first, then the bright fresh ripe fruit of the Syrah jumps out. The tannins are soft and there is crisp acidity present in the midpalate. The finish is chocolate covered blueberries.
Try this wine in a blind tasting with a $20 wine and a $30 wine, see if you can figure out which wine is the nine buck wine. The Charles & Charles Red will fool alot of people.
thanks for the heads up. i got 2 bottles on hold at the local shop. i can’t wait to destroy one, i mean savor the taste and experience of the juice tonight. i think lambchop and cous cous with blackhawks win gonna be an aight fri night….