Sam here, with a special offer just for Hillsborough customers... 

Folks, I’m a generally positive person- a really optimist to a fault. But, if we’re being honest with each other, this year made that outlook a little more difficult than I’d like to admit. Fortunately, when my glass is feeling more on the half-empty side I can usually find something to refill it-

Daou “The Pessimist” Red Blend

Sale $17.99

92 Points Wine Advocate

A blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Syrah, the Pessimist is a lot brighter and cheerier than it’s dour name implies. From their estate in picturesque Paso Robles, Daou continues to offer some of our favorite everyday wines that overdeliver without breaking the bank. For folks who love big flavors, Paso Robles is a California-based Eden, especially as we look past King Cab into more unique blends like this.

Petite Sirah provides an exceptional base of rich fruit flavors and a robust earthen tone, providing a platform for chocolate and smoke notes from the  Syrah and Zinfandel, all with a oak backbone that shows off a complex flavor profile. And, despite seeming like it might be a heavy, deep wine, a nice spice hit on the finish balances this beautifully into a wine that pairs both with pensive brooding and laughing on a zoom call.

And yeah, it’s great by itself, but lets talk food. A mushroom and swiss burger from the Nickel? Oh, necessarily. Rack of ribs or some pulled pork from Hillsborough Barbecue? No question. This wine is meant for all things grilled and roasted. So how about it? Lets call in some takeout, crack a bottle, and get that glass back up to half full.

"The 2018 Pessimist is a barrel sample blend of 62% Petite Sirah, 19% Zinfandel, 17% Syrah and 2% Lagrein. It is expected to age for 11 months in 50% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple, it offers up tar, chargrill, turned black earth and blackcurrants with wafts of blackcurrant bud, dark chocolate, smoked meats and crushed red cherries. The medium to full-bodied palate has lifted flavor layers, a firm, grainy frame and long, spicy, fresh finish." - WA

Available now in Hillsborough only. Reply to order