Red Blends from Target
🍷 Blind Red Blend Tasting – Target Middle Shelf Edition
🍇 Varietal Focus: Red Blends (California & Portugal)
Red blends combine multiple grape varietals to create balance and broader appeal. Most mass-market red blends (especially California shelf wines in the $10–$20 range) lean fruit-forward with:
🍒 Cherry & blackberry
🍓 Raspberry & strawberry
🍫 Vanilla & milk chocolate (from oak influence)
🪵 Light tannin structure
🔥 Soft acidity
🍷 Smooth, easy-drinking finish
California red blends often emphasize ripeness and vanilla-oak smoothness, while Portuguese blends can show darker fruit and rustic structure depending on the grapes used.
This tasting focused on approachable, middle-shelf Target selections — testing whether brand recognition or price makes the difference.
🍷 The Wines (Blind Order)
🍷 Wine #1
Silken Spice 2022 – Portugal – $12.99
Color: Garnet / Ruby
Aroma: Light cherry, blackberry, faint vanilla, slightly muted
Palate:
Very acidic
Heavy berry presence
Simple structure
Drying finish
Lacked complexity
Overall Impression:
Drinkable but unremarkable. Described as “just wine.” No standout structure or finish.
Scores
Scott: 8 (Would Not Buy Again)
Lynn: 12 (Would Bring to Party)
Total: 20
🍷 Wine #2
Apothic Wines – Apothic Red – California – $10.99
Color: Slightly lighter, fruit-forward appearance
Aroma: Vanilla, strawberry, light floral
Palate:
Raspberry & strawberry
Fruit-forward
Slightly watered-down texture
Mild finish
Overall Impression:
Sweeter and more aromatic than Wine #1 but still lacked depth. “Grape juice leaning.”
Scores
Scott: 9 (Would Not Buy Again)
Lynn: 13 (Would Bring to Party)
Total: 22
🍷 Wine #3
Bogle Family Vineyards – Essential Red 2022 – California – $9.99
Color: Very dark purple
Aroma: Stronger berry presence, vanilla, slight leather
Palate:
Alcohol & tannin forward
Raspberry, blackberry
Slight leather
More balanced than first two
Light-to-moderate finish
Overall Impression:
Better structure. More aroma. Slight leather complexity. Still not a “sit down and savor” wine.
Scores
Scott: 11 (Would Not Buy Again)
Lynn: 15 (Would Bring to Party)
Total: 26
🏆 Wine #4 – WINNER
Josh Cellars – Legacy Red Blend 2024 – Hopland, CA – $13.99
Color: Deep purple hue
Aroma: Vanilla, milk chocolate, raspberry
Palate:
Balanced acidity & tannin
Vanilla + raspberry
Rounded mouthfeel
Lingering finish
Most “character” of the group
Overall Impression:
Clearly the most balanced and expressive wine of the lineup. Had texture, structure, and a finish that lingered.
Scores
Scott: 13 (Would Buy Again – Home Use)
Lynn: 16 (Would Buy & Bring to Party)
Total: 29 🏆 Winner
