$14/$8
This red completes the triumvirate of quality picks in the under $20 class. Oak barrel aging is immediately apparent, and as you continue to drink it, you'll find yourself impressed with the complexity this wine presents to your palate.
Unfortunately, the weakness of Phelps’s ‘Pastiche’ is greenness, which, while mostly hidden, nevertheless dances around like a goblin in the wash of flavors that compete for your attention. Dryness, along with flavor darkness, reduce the potency of quality
which wine is capable.
While the Phelps Pastiche may be the weakest of the aforementioned triumvirate, who’s chief member remains the Tranchero 2002 Cab Sauv, followed by the Asti Cellar No. 8, it is still superior to most of the other reds in its class. At a sale price of $8 it’s a bargain. Don’t hesitate to grab a bottle, wherever you may find it.