A Californian Burgundy

Quick, what hap pens when you cross a Burgundian with a Californian? Answer: Paul Masson California Burgundy. No particular vintage.

A Californian Burgundy.....If Robert Parker sees this, he'd probably have a heart attack.

This little gem comes in a 1 liter carafe, and the price is $220NT. If a "bottle" is defined as 750ml, then this would translate to $165 per bottle. Yep, it is THE CHEAPEST wine found in Costco. Charles Shaw should be afraid, very afraid.

But, the quality is quite good, if I am honest. To summarize: medium body, medium intensity, fruit forward, well balanced tannin, but thoroughly lacking in complexity. It tastes.... almost exactly like that Black Box Merlot I bought some years before. Wouldn't be surprised at all if this wine came from the same producer. In short, if you are hosting a soiree, and you are a little short on cash, you will want to serve this wine. Just remember to change the label to DRC Richebourg or something like that.

One last thing. This wine needs a lot of air. So, be prepare to air it for at least an hour before chugging.

85 pts