2019 Powder Keg 'Demolition Red'

This is one of those, "Okay, I don't have much info on this wine, but it's GOOD!" wines! Sometimes, it's not about the intellect, it' about hedonistic pleasure...

So this is a blend of something like 33% Segalin, 27% Cabernet Dorsa, 22% Malbec and, ready for it? 18% "Proprietor’s Blend!" Oak? Yes - but who knows what kind and for how long. Don't ask. Just drink.

This wine doesn’t tiptoe in—it kicks down the door. The 2019 “Demolition” Red from Powder Keg is exactly what it sounds like: bold, unapologetic, and ready to blow up any assumptions you had about big California blends. A brooding dark ruby in the glass, this wine bursts with ripe blackberry, roasted plum, and black cherry preserves on the nose, underscored by sweet tobacco, baking spice, and just a flicker of charred oak.

On the palate, it’s dense and muscular but still surprisingly well-behaved for a wine with this much swagger. Juicy dark fruit takes the lead, supported by notes of vanilla bean, espresso, smoked meat, and cracked pepper. The tannins are firm but not abrasive—think leather jacket, not sandpaper—and the finish stretches on like a summer sunset in Paso. This is the kind of wine that makes you want to fire up the grill, call some friends, and "demolish" a rack of ribs. Sorry, couldn't resist...

Pairing tip: Excellent with barbecued anything, burgers stacked too high, or a big ol' wedge of aged cheddar when the grill’s not an option.