Wine Review Wednesday: Rocca Family Vineyards "Bad Boy Red" 2007

This is a generous, big-spirited wine with a nose of cherry and bright purple berry fruit, a hint of spice, and a distinct violet scent. There’s also a whiff of something that can only be described as spicy caramel. I could smell this all day and be perfectly happy. On the palate, all the lushness of the nose finds its tactile equivalent in a gorgeous silky texture. It, too, is rich, though far more earthbound. Bass-notes dominate here: Barely sweetened chocolate ganache, plums, black currants, a hint of tobacco leaf. It would be perfect with brown sugar-kissed barbecued ribs, but I’d be just as content to sip it on its own. Truth be told, if I opened this up around cocktail hour (4:00 in my house), I have a sneaking suspicion that the bottle wouldn’t make it much past 4:30. This is a great example of how approachable and delicious Meritage-style wines can be. 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot.