Counter Cut

A deep, silky Merlot, the Counter Cut 2013 Heirloom Red is made for meats. Dark garnet with purple rim edges, this wine is juicy and delicious with hints of espresso that linger on the long finish. Use those notes to your advantage and pair it with your next coffee rubbed pork shoulder, or with your basil and heirloom tomato bruschetta. You meal is farm to table, why shouldn’t your wine be?

The warm days and cold nights in California are perfect for producing concentrated and expressive grapes over the long grow season. These late harvest grapes are prized for producing wines with lush, velvety tannins, full body, and intense fruit flavors. The Counter Cut 2016 Heirloom Red is about celebrating the farm to table ethos of “quality over quantity,” and is blended to be the ideal accompaniment to the best cuts your butcher has to offer.

REGION:

There aren’t many wine regions in the world more diverse than California. The warm days and cool nights are perfect for producing concentrated and expressive grapes over the long grow season. With vineyards on the sea swept Central Coast; the mountainous, jagged terrain of Northern California; and the storied plots of Napa, winemakers can be exacting in choosing the specific climate and terroir they are looking for when making their wines. With nutrient rich soils and scores of different microclimates, California is a gift to ambitious winemakers .

WINEMAKER:

Simply put, Joe Otos has a reputation for making great wine. One of the most acclaimed winemakers working in California today, his wines have won a number of gold medals, 90+ point scores, and strong reviews. More importantly to us, though, his wines have consistently topped the list of our members' favorite wines throughout 2016 and 2017.

TASTING NOTES:

While this wine is extremely versatile and perfect for pairing with a wide array of food, it really shines when paired with meats. Medium-bodied with approachable, silky tannins the Counter Cut 2013 Heirloom Red has flavorful notes of smooth cherry, plum, and raspberry balanced with a savory finish. Lingering notes of espresso make it fantastic to pair with grilled chicken, braised short ribs, char-broiled steak... and roasted vegetables if you must.