Wine Maker: Scott Peterson

Vintage: 2017

Wine Name/Vineyard: Rumpus

Wine Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Central Coast

State or country: California

Price: $11

ABV: 14.5%

Cases produced: N/A

The Barrel Cellar Score:  87 points

Review date: October 20, 2020

About the Winemaker: Winemaker Scott Peterson produced this wine for Naked Wines. Prior to producing his own wines, he was producing wine at California’s Kendall Jackson. Scott has taken advantage of the opportunity to produce wine under his own label and is producing a variety of well received wines.

Color:  Deep Purple

Nose:  Strawberry, cranberry, and oak.

Taste: Cherry, apple skin, and eucalyptus, cinnamon on the finish

Assessment: Rumpus is a nice surprise. There is some nice character in the bottle, considering the wine is priced at $11.99. Rumpus has bright acidity and red berry notes, balanced nicely with soft tannins. It’s full bodied and has some pleasing notes of cinnamon on the finish. The bottle did need an hour or so to decant before opening up, but once it did, I found it to be quite enjoyable. Will this win a blind tasting next to some of California’s big boy cabs? Probably not, but it does certainly overshadow its similarly priced competitors.

Ready to drink now (decant); will age well for another 1-2 years.

Rumpus 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a good wine.  87 points. 

Pairing recommendation: Well ripened golden delicious apple, aged Gouda, Duck Confit.