Wine of the Week: 2006 X Winery Red X

I chose this bottle because I really enjoyed an X Winery Cabernet Sauvignon that I had in a flight a few months ago. Also, frankly, it has an eye-catching label. It was about $12.99 at my local wine shop, which feels like a deal, since it is listed at $14.99 on X Winery’s website (www.xwinery.com). If you’ve never heard of X, it bills itself as “The winery [that] utilizes new technologies along with traditional winemaking to produce wines that have the texture and traditional flavor profile of wines that normally cost two to three times the price,” with a goal “to create wines that [have] an outstanding value proposition for wine consumers.” Red X is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 12% Zinfandel, and 6% Petite Sirah. It has a ruby to purple hue, and the dominant scent is probably a red fruit, like cherries, with a slight mineral note. In terms of taste, this wine is relatively full bodied with moderate tannins and a slightly spicy black cherry flavor. I find it to be well-structured with a medium finish. X Winery describes it as “Dark purple, blue red color with aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, plum with just a hint of mocha and anise. Well integrated tannins lead to a smooth texture. Fully extracted with wonderful balance; this unique blend is quite versatile.” At this price point, I’d say this is a good everyday wine – well worth keeping on hand to drink with Tuesday (or even Friday) night dinner.