NV Sacred Stone Red Blend

pjwine

Decanted for about an hour and it made a noticeable difference. A little tart upfront and a little thin throughout, but overall a good bottle of wine. Seems like it would be a good steak wine.

NV Sacred Stone Red Blend

Tom Jones

NV Sacred Stone Red Blend

eleutherios

What the hell grapes are actually in my bottle?!?!

I say this not because (as previous reviewers have noted) this wine explodes with the flavors of many varietals, but because I have found THREE different descriptions of what varietals are present.

1) A previous review mentioned this was a "50% merlot and sangiovese blend". That reviewer must have accessed this description: "26% Merlot, 24% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah and small amounts of Carignane and Grenache" from the link below:

http://www.pietrasantawinery.com/cr_sacredstone.html

2) My bottle lists "Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel". A picture of my bottle can be found on their website through this link:

http://www.pietrasantawinery.com/images/SacredStone_MRB.jpg

3) Hilariously, when one clicks on the store link for Pietra Santa winery, you find this:

"14.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 24% Red Mix Blend, 8.5% Syrah, 23.8% Sangiovese, 3% blend of Carignan and Grenache. "

http://www.pietrasantawinery.com/store.html [click on the Sacred Stone link from here]

So ironically, the mild intrigue generated by these disparate descriptions may be more alluring that the wine itself. From my tasting (and that of reviewer Sasha-like-wine), I thought the Zinfandel really dominated this mix, so perhaps the listing on my bottle (#2 from above, does not give percentages) is correct. However maybe the Sangiovese / Syrah combo slipped me up and I had a Zinllusion.

Are we talking two or three different vintages (my bottle was purchased at World Market 6/15/07)? I feel like emailing Pietra Santa for my own piece of mind.

Tasting Tags: 14.8% blend california hot new oak old red world

NV Sacred Stone Red Blend

Peter Butler

A lot of people aren't gonna like this wine, it's true. Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel? From Hollister? Wha?!

The label says nearly 15% alcohol, and at first open, you can definitely smell it. In fact, you can smell a big pile of stuff. Let it sit for a while, or preferably decant for 45 minutes or so.

I think the prunes are there, along with blackberry, fresh dirt, and maybe a little strawberry. Good balance. I wouldn't call it chewy, but I like those tannins. Let it sit a little longer if you don't.

There are those of us who experimented as kids, mixing 30 percent cherry soda with 25 percent coke, 15 percent ginger ale, 10% sprite, and 20 percent peach schnapps. This wine is for us!

Tasting Tags: alcoholic blend fruit hot odd

NV Sacred Stone Red Blend

sasha_likes_wine

WHOA!

About 50 flavors explode as this nears the tongue. Described as "rhone style" but everything from zinfandel and syrah to mushrooms and prunes jumps out at you. What grape DIDN'T they put in here?

Like old-world wines? Don't drink this. Like new-world wines? All of them? Together in a glass? Perfect.

It isn't "complex" - it is overwhelming, like a steak served with butter, blue cheese, A1, bearnaise, sloy, and ketchup. But if that's what you're serving, it will match perfectly.

Chew it! It really wasn't "bad" but I spent more time wondering "why" than enjoying it. About what you would expect mixing several reasonable wines that don't like each other together, and then concentrating them.

Tasting Tags: why?

NV Sacred Stone Red Blend

bjwdad

I purchased this at a nearby BevMo store. I love good red blends, and this is a nice one. Merlot and Sangiovese comprise 50% of the blend, but as far as aroma and taste, Syrah, Cab and Grenache are the ones I noticed most. It's well-balanced, warm, earthy, and a little spicy/peppery. And still under $10!! I'll be looking for other wines from Pietra Santa.

Tasting Tags: balanced earthy pepper rich spicy warm

NV Sacred Stone Red Blend

rharlow

Very decent table wine. Enjoyed it with a meal. A little sharp at first, but finishes real well.