Category: Wines From New Mexico

Wine Review: 2016 Cab-Zin, St. Clair Vineyard

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After an underwhelming first sample from St. Clair Vinyard, I decided to give them a second chance. St. Clair is in New Mexico after all and I wanted to like their wines.

A Cab-Zin blend is pretty basic, how could they screw it up?

Well…..where there’s a will, there’s a way.

This Cab-Zin is medium-light bodied at best leading with bright notes of cherry that are too bright. Xavier said it tasted sour. Completely devoid of any of the deep dark, chocolatey goodness that one would expect from this type of blend. It doesn’t really even look dark in the glass but on the plus side it did get a little better after being open for about an hour and there was no extra charge for the headache I woke up with this morning.

You know you’ve chosen poorly when the conversation at the dinner table sounds like, “If you hate it, we still have that box of Franzia.” It’s like staying at a hotel and laminating that it’s not as nice as Motel 6.

If you’re looking for a good New Mexico wine this, my friends, is not it.

 

Wine Review: 2012 Bistro Red, St. Clair Winery

St. Clair Bistro Red

St. Clair Winery is located in Deming, New Mexico but they have bistros located around the state including one in Albuquerque. St. Clair wine is also sold at local grocery stores. I bought this bottle of 2012 Bistro Red at Albertson’s in Los Lunas.

Xavier and I had this wine on New Year’s Eve and I had hoped it would be better. I mean, it wasn’t terrible by any means but the flavor just didn’t appeal to me. Similar to 14 Hands Hot To Trot Red Blend, St. Clair Bisto Red has a minerality to it that tastes slightly like way rancid cooking oil smells. It just hits me in the wrong place.

In general, not particularly tasty or smooth. Tastes more like a homemade science experiment than a carefully handcrafted wine.

I have hopes that their other varietals are better but I won’t be buying Bistro Red again.