2016 Culmina R&D Red Blend – $23.00 – ***½ – Someone must have heard me thinking about this wine as I mentioned it in my review of the Culmina Malbec – and a bottle showed up the next day. The thing that’s great about the R&D blends is that they are ready to drink immediately. – my only “complaint” about the flagship Hypothesis is the decanting time is prohibitive to the impatient. The other great thing about R&D is that if you choose to age it for a few years you will be rewarded. This is a blend of their estate grown Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. There is a strong smoky note over the nose and finish that sets this apart from previous vintages – and will definitely be divisive if you’re familiar with this wine. That being said you are still going to find plush red fruit and velvet tannin in the bottle. Something to pair with barbecue or on it’s own.
