2007 intelligent design cuvée - by wesley ashley wines

The 2007 intelligent design cuvée made by wesley ashley wines if a red field blend of 51.5% Carignan, 15% Grenache, 14% Cinsaut, 11% Petite Sirah, 4.5% Mouvedre, and 4% Pinot Noir. The fruit was sourced from California's Central Coast appellation and the wine made by winemaker Stephen Tebb. The wine is a small 500 case production and was aged in 100% French oak for 18 months.

On the nose this wine is very aromatic and shows beautiful red raspberry, cherry pie, spice, oak, and candied cherry aromas. I think the combination of these varieties together makes for a very nicely perfumed wine.

On the palate the wine drinks with a bright intensity and shows a variety of berry fruits. It's almost like a mixed berry pie and even shows a hint of vanilla which reminds me of whip cream. It's not an overly complex wine but does seem to be very well balanced and quite fruit forward. It's a light bodied red that drinks like a bold style Pinot Noir and has a nice long berry finish.  88 points

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