Deep ruby color; black fruits, black cherry, plum, blueberry, blackberry, charred meat, espresso, caramel, cedar on the nose and palate.
Dry; well behaved tannins; mild acidity (3.72 pH). Smooth, rich, silky in the mouth. Some oak. Plenty of rich, tasty black and red fruits. Almost jammy. Eclectic blend of 40% cabernet sauvignon, 20% syrah, 10% petite sirah, 10% cabernet franc, 10% petit verdot, 10% malbec. Pretty much all the red varieties you could find in Paso Robles. The winery sources from at least seven vineyards. 14.3% ABV
Booker Vineyard is the maker, which adds mystery to this effort. I may have reviewed this wine two years ago, but that bottle listed the source as Paso Robles. This one states San Luis Obispo County, which includes Paso Robles AVA. Furthermore, this wine also can be found labeled as “My Favorite Neighbor Harvey & Harriet Red Blend.”
In 2021, when I reviewed the blend identified with Paso Robles, you found it on the myfavoriteneighbor.com website. The Harvey & Harriet wines are not on that website now. Today, you can find it on a harveyandharriet.com website. Harvey & Harriet is a sister label to My Favorite Neighbor. All more than a bit confusing, but the wine is tasty and—if this is same wine reviewed two years ago—it has nicely mellowed with two years of bottle age.
Winemaker Eric Jensen explains the wine is named for his parents. Jensen noted on the myfavoriteneighbor website video two years ago: “Harvey & Harriet were my parents—loving, kind, thoughtful people. Kind to everybody—no enemies. They loved wine, but in today’s world, they couldn’t have afforded a high end wine. So I created Harvey & Harriet for them. A thoughtful, delicious, cult-style wine that can land on everyone’s dinner table.”
The saga is an American success story of a large, scrambling family barely making ends meet and keeping it all together. The label depicts Harry and Harriet holding hands while on a tightrope strung across an abyss. A metaphor for the family’s early history. This is down-to-earth wine made by down-to-earth people.
Harvey & Harriet Red Wine Blend, San Luis Obispo County 2019 is rich, soft, very fruit-forward. Made with a boisterous parade of Paso Robles red grapes. Upper-end everyday drinker. Folks who enjoy easy-sipping wines with dialed-back tannin and acidity will find this pleasing and easily approachable. Tasty and full enough to be enjoyed by itself without food pairing, or minimal pairing of some finger food, charcuterie board. Pair with all manner of comfort food: meatloaf; slow-cooked brisket; barbecue plate with brisket, sausage, potato salad, and slaw; pizza; cheesburger with fries; lamb; baby back ribs; lamb chops. Cheese—very versatile; semi-hard cheeses; aged goudas, cheddar, asiago, colby, camembert, gorgonzola. It will even work with pretend cheese like Velveeta. $30
