Dark ruby-purple color; blackberry jam, some vanilla, oak and brown spice on the palate; big fruit-forward blackberry, red cherry, ripe plum, hints of black currant with mild tang, cola, oak, mocha on the palate.
Plush, smooth, soft in the mouth; lots of jammy fruitiness and plenty of oak; reserved tannins, subdued acidity. If you like your cabs smooth, simple, compliant, with fruity sweetness, this is your pour. You can’t get too haughty about its big-jammy fruitiness and simplicity because, reality check, it sells for less than $10. What do you expect?
People who do not like serious reds, especially serious cabs or cab-dominated blends, may enjoy this. Have at it. You can get similar flavors from cab boxed wine at even cheaper pricing. This is not horrible, disjointed wine. It is wine made for a market niche target of both palate and price. Undoubtedly there are many who will find this wine perfectly meets their expectations and tastes. Enjoy.
The Pellier family, original owners of Mirassou, began growing grapes in California in 1854 and the winery can lay claim to being the oldest in the state. It evolved through the decades, particularly under the direction of Henrietta Pellier, daughter of the original winemakers who married Peter Mirassou, a neighboring vintner. Fourth generation Edmund Mirassou pioneered wine making in Monterey County/Central Coast in the 1960s. Gallo purchased the operation in 2003, and today Victoria Ferguson is the head winemaker. She is not part of the Mirassou blood lineage, but does carry on the tradition of female leadership in the winery.
Mirassou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 may be too jammy and oaky for my taste, but there are plenty of wine drinkers who will find this exactly what they seek in a California cab. $9-12
Second photo: Mirassou winemaker Victoria Ferguson
