INSIDER'S PICK: 2018 MICHAEL POZZAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON ALEXANDER VALLEY $19.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

An 'easy' wine for this week, something straight through the uprights of deliciousness for most everyone to enjoy. Which is never a bad thing. The Alexander Valley sits at the northernmost end of Sonoma County, long regarded as a high quality growing area, but expansive enough and remote enough that the cost of producing wine hasn't become prohibitively expensive. Values can therefore still be found, showing off the distinct regional character and still able to be enjoyed on an everyday basis. A bit cooler and darker fruited on the nose and palate, with some touches of spice and cocoa especially on the minerally texture. At the higher end the wines here show off a lot of tannic structure compared to most other Californian regions,but at this price point there is plenty of approachability with just a tinge of firmness to the finish. This isn't a weighty fruit-forward monster, nor should it be for the price point, making it ideal for a mid-week meal to scratch that Cabernet itch.

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