Bridlewood Blend 175 2009

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
The name of this California red blend comes from the winery's claim that it took 175 tastings of different blends before winemaker David Hopkins gave his approval.
Blend 175 probably sounds better than "try and try again."
The blend is a mixture of syrah, cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel, with syrah as the primary grape. The grapes are sourced from the Central Coast area, and the wine is given six to eight months of oak aging.
This wine is surprisingly sweet - jam-like to be precise - and provides many layers to challenge your taste buds. The tannins are very smooth, and it has a soft feel in the mouth.
Sherry: "Medium-bodied with tones of licorice, plum and raspberry." 3 stars
Chris: "Prune and raisin bouquet with flavors of raspberry and cherry." 3 stars
Available locally for about $13.
Coming next week: Riscal Tempranillo