Good Fucking Wine
Disclaimer: The bottle of Good Fucking Wine reviewed here is a sample provided to the blog.
I like to think that I am above prejudices, but the Good Fucking wine showed me that is not the case. My initial reaction when Amber told me that a bottle with this name was on its way was to ask if it was Australian. The name seemed such an Aussie thing to do. My assumption was wrong. It is from Lodi, with “a whole lot of New York attitude”.
My second erroneous assumption was that behind the provocative name would be a traditional blend. Maybe, given the Lodi origin, a mainly Zinfandel mix. Once more I was wrong. The blend is 52% Alicante Bouschet, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Zin, 5% Syrah, 3% Pinot Noir, and 1% Sangiovese. So, I was not 100% wrong just 82% incorrect; there is some Zinfandel in the blend. This is not a traditional blend at all.
Alicante Bouschet
The main grape is eye-catching. We have about 400 bottles of wine in the house. None of them contain any Alicante Bouschet. Of the 1160 bottles of wine that my cellar tracker app shows we have consumed or gifted, just one had any of this grape. A 2010 Mysterium from Trinitas had 1% Alicante Bouschet.
Despite the lack of records, I am sure that I have drunk more than that one bottle. The grape grows in Southern Portugal and is a common component of red wine from Alentejo. It is also grown extensively in Spain. The grape is well suited to hotter climes; which is presumably why it is planted in Lodi.
Alicante Bouschet grapes are one of the few varieties where the flesh of the fruit is red. Most grapes have clear flesh; red wine gets its colour from the skins and not the grape juice.
Tasting Good Fucking Wine
The nose was rich with cranberry and warm metal. Taking a sip, I encountered a fruit-bomb. There was enough acidity to support the lush blackberry. The minimal tannins emerged with slightly more force in the finish in which I also found notes of cassis.
This wine is a crowd pleaser. It is easy to drink and ready for consumption. It showed no potential for aging. Too fruity for me to add this to my favourites. However, if you like fruity, low tannins red this is a good choice given its $18 price point.
You can order the wine from here.
