Deep ruby color; cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate on the nose; black cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, plum, caramel, chocolate, oak on the palate.
Dry; some assertive tannins and initial harshness—decanting strongly suggested. Balancing acidity (3.68 pH) to the noticeable tannins. Full, rich body. Blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon, 11% petit verdot, 8% petite sirah, 3% syrah, 1% malbec. Grapes sourced from various vineyards around Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Edna Valley. Aged 18 month in French oak, 70% new, 30% neutral. 14.4% ABV
This is a Booker Vineyard label. Harvey & Harriet is another label, and sometimes confusingly it is labeled “My Favorite Neighbor Harvey & Harriet….” Eric Jensen is the winemaker for both labels. The website includes a charming video where Eric and a brother and sister (there are five other siblings) tell their hardscrabble, amusing, and eventually uplifting story.
Jensen notes: “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 best way to get a feel for the zeitgeist at Booker Vineyards–My Favorite Neighbor–Harvey & Harriet is to visit the website and experience several videos. The saga is an American success story of a large, scrambling family barely making ends meet and keeping it all together. The Harry & Harriet label depicts Harry and Harriet holding hands while on a tightrope strung across an abyss. The My Favorite Neighbor label depicts the old tin cans and a string “telephone.” Down-to-earth wines made by down-to-earth people. Well worth you giving it a try.
My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 offers a taste of higher-shelf Central Coast blended cabernet sauvignon at somewhat affordable price point. Impressive concentration and layers of dark fruit flavors. Grapes from three AVAs and high-quality vintage. Pair with rich grilled beef; lamb, venison and wild game; roast and barbecue chicken; comfort foods—pizza, meatloaf, pasta with meat balls, burgers and sliders. Cheese—creamy and bloomy cheese; bleu cheese, humbolt fog, brie, camembert, sharp cheddar, ricotta, gorgonzola, gouda, cheddar—harder, aged cheeses. $45-53
