Tonight we look at a 2011 cabernet from California’s Paso Robles area that sells for $12-$13.
I sometimes use the phrase “California goulash” to describe that generic taste you get from so many of California’s affordable red wines. Coastline’s regular cabernet ($6-$9) fits this term perfectly, but this reserve version . . . unfortunately fits the term perfectly. I know it’s only $13, but Coastline Reserve cab is so punishingly generic that it feels like it should be priced much lower.
Taste: oak, red fruit, vanilla, on the heavy end of medium-bodied.
Recommendation: do not purchase, do not pass Go, do not spend 13 dollars. Instead, go directly to:
- Lapis Luna Moon Eyes cab
- Avalon cab
- Wheelhouse cab
- Columbia Crest H3 cab
- Heavyweight cab
- Heron cab
- R Collection cab
- Hahn cab, or even
- Cupcake cab . . .
. . . all of which are under $14. Or, if you really want to splurge:
- Kendall-Jackson cab, which is $15 and SURPRISINGLY good. There! End on a positive note.
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Alas! I bought two bottles of this wine yesterday at Total Wine with a very favorable recommendation from an employee there. I paid under $10 though. Hopefully $10 makes more sense.
I hope you will tell us how you liked it!