Frog’s Leap, California “Flycatcher” Red Wine 2023 ($30)

Because of its mongrel nature, there may be a tendency to under-appreciate this wine which John Williams says he drinks when he’s thinking Beaujolais. It is a blend of grapes from across the state that son Rory Williams found while working his own wines – leading with Zinfandel (36%) and then following with Cinsault, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Tempranillo, Merlot and Syrah. It has lots of savory aromas with flavors of plums and other dark fruit with a little Rhone-style smokiness – quite complex, though more lean than rich, notably different and definitely charming.
91 Roger Morris