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.

Courtesy 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 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.