Rowen Wine Red Blend

80–84: Drinkable but forgettable — simple, unbalanced, wouldn’t buy again. 85–89: Good everyday — pleasant, balanced, reliable but not distinctive. 90–92: Very good — some depth, personality, and polish. Worth rebuying, will never fail. 93–95: Excellent — complex, expressive, layered, clear sense of place. 96–98: Exceptional — powerful yet elegant; truly memorable wine. 99–100: Benchmark — near-perfect, transcendent, one of the best ever. Fresh plum, blackberry, and raspberry with a subtle leafy/ herbal nuance and slight oak spice. Medium body, …

Stepping down from VHR and Caymus Special Selection of was a reasonable way to end the night. A fairly balanced blend but ending with a slight grit that could probably have been decanted out.

All finish, no fruit. Substantial tannins, full mouth feel, good alcohol, and only a small bit of cherry that tries to peek through on the beginning. This one has a long and pleasant finish, very fresh, eucalyptus, and maybe even a little cedar.