I am certain, however, Constellation carefully researched this and discovered a wine-drinking segment that will enjoy. Those who appreciate their traditional brands-Robert Mondavi, Kim Crawford, Charles Smith, Franciscan Estate, The Prisoner, Tom Gore-know Constellation can make quality wines that behave like traditional wines. Constellation knows marketing and niches, and they clearly zeroed in on one here. The wine is a product of Constellation Brands, the largest wine maker in the world. The thief refers to the hollow-tube tool used to draw wine from a barrel for evaluation as it evolves. The name comes from the craftspeople who hand-make whiskey barrels (and wine and other barrels)-the cooper. Again, the alcohol sweetness and fruity sweetness trample flavor nuances. Thanks to the merlot and syrah, the tannins are mild, hardly noticeable. The sweetness of the alcohol, ripe fruits, and oak really comes across, even if technically the residual sugar keeps this in the dry category. Surprisingly, the astonishing 17% ABV does not really come across as hot, masked by the bourbon and oak. There is no typistity to this at all, unless you count the oak and bourbon.

The maker threw all the red grapes available into this knowing the bourbon barrels would mash everything together. You taste the bourbon and oak influence much more than the blend of 38% merlot, 37% syrah, 11% zinfandel, 7% petite sirah, 4% cabernet sauvignon, and 3% other reds. Aged three months in bourbon barrels-the trendy new thing in California red wines-this pours in with a monster 17% ABV, avalanche of fruity sweetness abetted by 5.4 g/L RS, and wimpy 3.9 pH. Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Red Wine Blend 2014Дry massively dark and jammy, rich in the mouth.

Deep ruby color red fruits, bourbon on the nose red and black cherry, sugar plum, redcurrant, oak on the palate.

Cooper and thief red wine blend