Hey Mambo Sultry Red 2013: Dark crimson color; cherry, dark fruits, balsamic nose; big fruit-driven, jammy blend of California’s big, fruit-driven varieties—44% tempranillo; 28% syrah; 14% merlot; 7% zinfandel, 6% petite sirah, 1% barbera—from Clarksburg, Paso Robles, and Lodi (the blend formula changes with each vintage).
Plum, black raspberry, blueberry, cherry, chocolate, root beer on the palate; mild, sweet tannin; reduced acidity (3.7 pH). Label claims this is “sultry” and bottles delivers on the promise; competes in the Apothic Red/Yellow Tail category; excellent price, tasty fruity-jammy wine. Made by 3 Badge Beverage Corporation, formerly named The Other Guys.
3 Badge/Other Guys president August Sebastiani is a fourth generation California winemaker (you likely recognized the last name). The company is a negotiant operation—they buy grapes or juice, then produce wine (rather than having vineyards of their own). 3 Badge Beverage purchased the old Sonoma Firehouse in June 2015 to convert to company offices. Researching the old building, Sebastiani found a number of documents revealing his family’s involvement. His grandfather (also named August Sebastiani) worked in the fire house as a volunteer fire fighter. The family discovered three services badges from his grandfather’s time as a fire fighter—active, retired, honorary—and thus the 3 Badge Beverage Corporation name. The wine division of the enterprise is 3 Badge Enology, while a spirits division is 3 Badge Mixology. Wine brands include Hey Mambo, Plungerhead, Lesse-Fitch, Pennywise, The White Knight, Moobuzz, and Gehricke. $10-12
3 Badge website
Second photo: 3 Badge Beverage headquarter
