EXPERIENCE THE HOLIDAYS
Hello,
I’ll keep this short, simple, and easy today in an effort to translate that mentality to my
entire holiday shopping experience this year. Sometimes you want nothing more than for
someone to just tell you WHAT to buy. I’ve attempted to elicit this answer from both my girlfriend
and mother and so far I have a humidifier to work with. Thrilling. More exciting than this is a
brand new winery to the state of Ohio, Experience, who are offering positively quaffable Napa
Valley wine at a price that will not make you wince.
Experience’s 2012 Napa Valley Red Blend is a current release and is dominantly Zinfandel
based, with Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, and Merlot providing a bit of backbone. The wine sees
12 months in American Oak and the fruit and oak are quite well integrated. Upon first opening
the wine, bold fruit is immediately the star. Plenty of blackberry, blueberry, and dried plums are
at the forefront. I revisited the wine hours later after having tasted it with some of the staff and
found a bit more nuance… touches of espresso, vanilla, and smoke. The wine is bold and full
bodied, but its six years of age have rounded out any tough edges. Those tannins are smooth
and lingering. If you love modern, bold, and fruit forward Napa wines yet don’t wish to shell out
$50 each time you pick up a bottle, look no further. Have someone in mind who’d love a bottle of
wine for Christmas, yet you don't know what they like? This is it. I poured a glass for Mary
and the moment she tasted it, her eyes lit up.
Experience’s Napa Valley Red retails for $22.99 a bottle and is sure to catch on the
longer it is available in the state. Just remember though, you heard it here first. Also available
but more limited is their 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet ($29.99) and Sonoma Pinot Noir ($24.99).
Due in Friday, let us know if we can set any aside for you.
