A Wine for the Pessimist (Red Blend) in us all

Sometimes my husband calls me a pessimist, but I like to think of myself as a realist. Glass half empty, glass half full—whatever. Regardless of our different perspectives, I thought this Pessimist Red Blend from DAOU Vineyards was rather fitting, so I had to try it. The label was an eye-grabber and on top of that, that back of the label dropped some serious wisdom: “A pessimist is never disappointed.” Word.

23131640_10154890047885952_3157385728127879557_nCourtesy DAOU Vineyards

The Pessimist Red blend is made with Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Tannat. Sourced and crafted by the DAOU Vineyards winemaking team, this wine demonstrates classic old-world style with the fruit-forward characteristics of California. DAOU Vineyards is located on Daou Mountain in Paso Robles, California, standing alone at an elevation of 2,200 feet. It is a terroir of symmetry, power, and purity. Here, the vineyard seeks to produce California “first-growth” wine, fulfilling the Adelaida District’s destiny as the world’s next benchmark for Bordeaux varieties.

The Pessimist Red Blend in a wine glass

The Pessimist Red Blend is deep garnet with some purple and has a full range of dark berries on the nose with some earthiness. The wine sticks to the glass nicely. On the palate, there is dark fruit, berries, a nice balance of tannins, and sweet plum—with a certain level of jamminess to it. I also tasted some elderberry vibes, which sometimes comes off as somewhat medicinal to me. Overall, it wasn’t too shabby. I found it at Total Wine for $20. I paired it with some steak and brussel sprouts. 3.5/5.

A bottle of the Pessimist Red Blend

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