Deep ruby color; plum, black cherry, blackberry on the nose; plum, pomegranate, black cherry, blueberry, spice on the palate.
Dry (3.9 g/L); excellent acidity for red blend (3.43 pH); soft tannins; some cocoa and vanilla on the finish. Delicious, full flavors. Blend of 41% malbec, 21% syrah, 13% merlot, 10% grenache, 9% zinfandel, 4% petit verdot, 2% souzão. Seamless from attack to finish; the finish nicely presents layers of ripe fruit; plush, crowd pleasing style.
Saved Wines is a collaborative effort of second-generation California winemaker Clay Brock and Brooklyn tattoo/fine artist Scott Campbell. The “Saved” name comes from Campbell’s Saved tattoo studio in Brooklyn (his inks appear on Johnny Depp and Kanye West to name-drop a few clients). Throw into the mix Campbell’s smoking-hot wife, actress/director/screenwriter Lake Bell. Campbell designs the labels. He says he makes the wines look pretty and Brock makes the wines taste good. Saved Red Wine was inspired by one of Campbell’s personal wine preferences—a rich, fruit-forward red. This fits that bill.
The wine is part of the Constellation Brands portfolio, the world’s largest wine company. Constellation owns more than 100 brands in wine, beer, and spirits, including Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Franciscan Estates, Ravenswood, Manischewitz, Arbor Mist and many more. Constellation’s beer brands include Corona, Modelo Especial and more. Spirit brands include Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, Svedka Vodka and more.
Constellation’s story opens in the Finger Lakes region—Canandaigua—of northwestern New York State in 1945. Through internal expansion and brand acquisitions, they became the world’s largest wine producer. In many cases, Constellation built its worldwide brand by allowing individual wineries/wine makers to do what made the winery/winemaker attractive to Constellation in the first place, although Constellation does work to ramp up production and play to mass consumer tastes. In this case, they paired one of the world’s most influential tattoo artists—and artist beyond human skin—with a renowned winemaker. It works.
Saved Red Wine 2014 is robust, full bodied wine made with grapes that do not flaunt tannins, so it also is tasty, easy drinker; 15% ABV, too, so it can contribute to a hearty party atmosphere. The vivid fruits give it a fruity-sweet element, although the residual sugar places this firmly in the dry category. The key element to this wine is it is so tasty and delicious. Pair with grilled meats, barbecue, meat loaf, burgers and sliders, pizza, lamb, venison; also works as solo sipper with neutral wine crackers, where the alcohol won’t get in the way of the food enjoyment. This will not play so well with lighter meats and fish and fowl because of its bold flavors. $20
