HandCraft, California (United States) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

This is a terrific little end-of-summer red to enjoy with the informal foods of the season. It’s an apt wine for classic backyard burgers, and certainly the price to quality ratio makes it even more appealing.  HandCraft provides all the forthright, beef-friendly flavors one expects from California Cabernet, but the tannins have been very slightly reined in by a small amount of Sangiovese, which adds a measure of suppleness and perhaps also helps brighten and round out the fruit flavors