Yellow Tail. It’s everywhere. it’s cheap. This one came from Safeway for six bucks. It’s not bad. It’s 60% Shiraz and 40% Cab, but it tastes more Cab-like than Shiraz-like.
A little heaviness to the tannins is apparent. The wine doesn’t seem to benefit too much from airing. This is a totally fine wine to bring to a house party. It’d probably be a fine wine to bring for dinner, but Yellow Tail has gotten so big that everyone knows they’re wines for the under-$10 set. Which is fine, depending on your friends.
You won’t be having any of those moments with your hostess which end with “it’s great, and you wouldn’t believe it, but I got it for six bucks.”
None of that.
This is a nice unwinding wine. It would go OK with food. It doesn’t have much smell or taste. A little sharp, a little strong, a little… just plain, really. There’s nothing whatsoever wrong with it. It’s assertive, tanniny, and would hold up to, say, a lamb shawerma. Or a carne asada burrito, but at that point, why wouldn’t you be drinking a Negra Modelo?
I do try to pick lesser known wines to review, but you all know I’m a cheap bastard. My roommate came home with this from Safeway. It was there. It was open. I’d just finished a very hectic 2 1/2 weeks where I hadn’t really had time to drink or be very social. I’d work from 8 until past 10, and by then I wasn’t in any mood do think clearly.
It’s only six bucks, and it’s totally decent. Have at it. I’m not sad I’m drinking it, and would even pay, say, seven bucks for it and be perfectly OK. But I’d really rather spend a few more dollars and have a Bogle Shiraz, or even a Pepperwood Grove Pinot.