Michael David Winery, Lodi Red Don’s Blend, Lodi, California

Tasting Note: Ruby in color, this blend of zinfandel, mouvedre, carignane, syrah and petite sirah has a nose of ripe black fruit including blackberry, raspberry, black cherry and some vanilla and clove baking spice.

On the palate the wine is full bodied with some medium, slightly tart acidity finishing on the end.

The wine is a relatively straightforward blend showing some slight mid-palate complexity.

The wine was made by Mike & Dave Phillips as a surprise for their father Don Phillips’ 75th birthday.

The red blend was aged for 16 months in neutral oak.

Bottle Note: “Wine improves with age . . . the older I get the better I like it.” -Grandpa Don