Tasting: Bold country Reds
In this $20 to $50 tasting, 10 people with a wide variety of wine preferences tasted the 4 wines. The Cabernet, Barolo and Tempranillo were all purchased from Total Wine and right at the $50 price point. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape was purchased from Costco and was $37. Visually the color helped identify the grape and one person out of the 10 was able to identify all 4 wines.
Tempranillo: This is a black grape variety widely grown in Spain. Tempranillo wines typically exhibit flavors of red and black fruits 🍓🍇, along with leather 🍂, spice, and earthy notes. Rioja, Spain, is a well-known region for Tempranillo, producing wines with a balance of fruit, acidity, and tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon: This is a popular red wine grape known for its full body, high tannins, and rich flavors. Common aromas and flavors include blackcurrant 🍇, dark cherry 🍒, cedar 🌲, and vanilla (from oak aging). Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa County, California, where Wine A is from, is often characterized by concentrated fruit flavors, firm tannins, and a structured profile.
Barolo: This is a red wine from the Piedmont region of Italy, made from the Nebbiolo grape. Barolo is known for its complex aromas and flavors, including rose 🌹, cherry 🍒, truffle 🍄, and licorice. It is typically a full-bodied wine with high tannins and acidity.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a renowned appellation in the Southern Rhône Valley of France, celebrated for its full-bodied red wines. These wines are typically blends, often utilizing Grenache as the dominant grape, along with other varieties like Syrah, Mourvèdre, and others (up to 13 are permitted). Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are known for their complex aromas and flavors, which can include red and black fruit, spice, garrigue (the local scrubland), and earthy notes.
🍷 Wines Tasted (Presented in Reveal Order)
🅰 Wine A – Amici Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa County, California 🇺🇸
Year: 2021
Price: $49.99
Store: Total Wine
Vivino Rating: 4.2
Tasting Notes: Classic Napa Cab – bold, ripe fruit, firm tannins, smooth structure
Lynn’s Score: 17
Scott’s Score: 19
Total Lynn and Scott Score: 36
Total Score from all 10 tasters: 169, average = 17
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes, and take it to a neighborhood party
Would Scott buy again? ✅ Yes, and hold it for a special occasion
🅱 Wine B – Domaine Grand Lune de Papa (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Grape: Grenache blend
Region: Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷
Year: Costco
Price: $37.99
Store: Costco
Vivino Rating: 4.1
Tasting Notes: Earthy, spiced red fruit, lighter in body – polarizing. Some called it “not the right color” and noted a short finish.
Lynn’s Score: 20
Scott’s Score: 19
Total Lynn and Scott Score: 39
Total Score from all 10 tasters: 148, average = 15
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes, and take it to a neighborhood party
Would Scott buy again? ✅ Yes, and keep it for a special occasion
🅲 Wine C – Viña Pedrosa La Navilla Reserva
Grape: Tempranillo
Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain 🇪🇸
Year: 2016
Price: $49.99
Store: Total Wine
Vivino Rating: 4.2
Tasting Notes: Complex, well-aged, dark fruit, oak and spice – Scott gave it a perfect 18 and multiple tasters thought it was the Barolo
Lynn’s Score: 16
Scott’s Score: 18
Total Lynn and Scott Score: 34
Total Score from all 10 tasters: 123, average = 12
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes
Would Scott buy again? ✅ Yes
🅳 Wine D – Achille Boroli Barolo
Grape: Nebbiolo
Region: Piedmont, Italy 🇮🇹
Year: 2019
Price: $50.99
Store: Total Wine
Vivino Rating: 4.1
Tasting Notes: Elegant, floral with notes of rose, tar, and cherry. Complex but divisive – Lynn wasn’t over the top with a 12, while Scott found it appealing.
Lynn’s Score: 12
Scott’s Score: 18
Total Lynn and Scott Score: 30
Total Score from all 10 tasters: 134, average = 13
Would Lynn buy again? ✅ Yes, and take to a neighborhood party
Would Scott buy again? 👍 Yes, and take to a neighborhood party
Winning Wine: Amici Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine A)
Why It Won:
Consistent High Scores: Both Lynn and Scott scored this wine strongly—Scott gave it a 19, and Lynn a 17, totaling 36, with the average of all 10 tasters giving it 17. Across the broader tasting group, it frequently landed in the top two, showing broad appeal.
Classic Napa Expression: Tasters identified it as bold, smooth, and well-balanced—a textbook example of what people love about Napa Cabs. It delivered ripe dark fruit flavors (black cherry, plum), smooth tannins, and a polished finish 🍒🪵.
Recognizably Delicious: Multiple tasters guessed this was the Cabernet even before the reveal, which speaks to how true it was to its varietal style. It was described as approachable yet powerful—exactly what you'd want from a high-end Cab.
Universal Appeal: No divisive opinions—while the Barolo and Tempranillo had individual fans, the Amici Cab was the most consistently liked across the group ✅.
In short: It was smooth, bold, and delivered exactly what a Napa Cabernet promises—and everyone noticed. A wine that didn’t just meet expectations, but confirmed them with style 🍷✨.
