The least expensive wines in Dave Phinney's mine are his Locations portfolio. I tasted two of them. The NV Proprietary Red CA-4, which is a 15,000-case cuvee, all from 2014. It is a blend from diverse California areas, ranging from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino to the Sierra Foothills, of Tempranillo, Barbera, Petite Sirah and Grenache. This is an outstanding wine, the kind of bistro/brasserie red that consumers will love. Opaque deep ruby/purple, it is loaded with intense wild berry fruit and a Zinfandel-like briariness, offering pepper, herbs, a touch of smoke and loads of black fruits and background oak. This is a big boy at 15.5% alcohol, but it's not the least hot – just savory, luscious and opulent. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.
