A basic, hugely popular Cab, understandably so given its excessive sweetness, ripe dark fruit (cassis, blackberry, blueberry), and notes of vanilla, black pepper, and baking spice. But this easy and broad appeal, presumably to many, comes with a lack of structure (it's like drinking sweet/rich alcoholic fruit juice, coming across as quite hot) and, obviously, a lack of anything even resembling sophistication. That's too much to ask for in a wine of this caliber, perhaps, a wine destined for the global market, and it's okay, just okay, for what it is, but it's still overly simple and confected.

OK as a table wine. Tasted September 2015.