Talon Winery Rock Red (NV)

Glenn Foster, the vintner with ties to Sonoma giant Ravenswood, is not afraid to take a risk with the vino in his Talon Winery label.

The non-vintage Rock Red, a blend that is about 2/3 Merlot, is a prime example. About a quarter of this wine is composed of “mixed blacks,” a term covering a hodgepodge of Portuguese varietals he grows, largely for Port production.

These are intense, rich and chewy grapes that bode well for a dessert offering. The rest of this wine falls into the fruit bomb category, with sugar coating the mouth. The Merlot brings the sweet and fruit, the Blacks bring game meat. Think jerky stirring the pitcher of cherry Kool Aid.

Beyond the 68% Merlot and mixed blacks, this bottle also features a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Cabernet Franc (4%).

Truthfully, the Mixed Blacks seem a better fit in a fortified dessert wine than this application. But at least Foster is trying something different, which is always worth raising a glass to.

Who should drink this wine: Those who are curious about the mixed black port flavors in a traditional wine.

For more
Talon Winery Brands Rock Red (NV)
Alcohol by volume: 14.5%
Grand Valley
Price: $15
Not rated on Colorado Wino’s completely arbitrary 11-point rating system

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