Even a bad commute can't save this wine- Trellis 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

As commuting goes, this week has been terrible. The company I am consulting for is located only 38 miles from my home in San Francisco, but since Tuesday, my average evening commute has lasted over 2 hours. On Tuesday, the main freeway from Silicon Valley to San Francisco was closed due to a tanker truck accident. Wednesday they were still cleaning up, and Thursday night we were blasted by a huge rain storm. I took it all in stride the first 2 days, but Thursday night put me over the edge. The drive is normally long enough at 1 hour 20 minutes. Add on an extra 40 minutes, and I am not a happy camper.

So, after over 2 hours of commuting on Thursday night, my mind was clearly focused on one thing- getting a glass of wine in my hands as fast as possible.   Luckily, I had bought a couple budget bottles last weekend, and I was yet to give either a try. I grabbed the first bottle I saw- the Trellis 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. With great optimism, I opened the bottle and poured myself a hefty glass. In fact, I could hardly call it “a glass.” Using international serving guidelines, it would probably classify as 3 glasses.

The first sip was not good at all. It was rough, too sharp, and lacked any pleasant aftertaste. I contemplated dumping the glass, but then changed my mind- determined to get through this big glass. The wine improved marginally as I kept drinking, but I think it was more a case of me just accepting that I was drinking bad wine, rather than the wine actually getting better.

Knowing that tonight I’ll be going out for dinner and drinks, last night I vacuum sealed the Trellis and put it in my fridge. Who knows, after a big meal and a bunch of beverages, I might just numb my taste buds enough to make this wine a winner!!

Recommendation: Don’t buy it

Comments

[Mark V Marino]

That is a Bronco Wine Company, Wine Fred Franzia, 20 million cases a year, 35 thousand acres of central valley grapes. Here is a list of labels including Charles Shaw.
They are capable of doing many crazy things look them up on a internet search. The problem is not two bottles are alike for one thing

Albertoni Vineyards
Alexander and Fitch
Almond Creek
American Airlines
Bad Dog Ranch
Bears' Lair
Black Mountain
CC Vineyards
Cedar Brook
Charles Shaw
Chateau California
Coastal Ridge
Coastal Vines
Congress Springs
Crane Lake
Domaine Laurier
Domaine Napa
Dona Sol
Douglass Hill
Down Under
Estrella
Fat Cat
Forest Glen
Forest Hill
ForestVille
Foxbrook
FoxHollow
Glass Mountain
Grand Cru
Grove Ridge
Hacienda
Harlow Ridge
JW Morris
JFJ Winery
Laurier
Montpellier
Napa Creek
Napa Crossing
Napa Landing
Napa Ridge
Napa River
Oak Vineyards
Pacific Oasis
Quail Creek
Quail Ridge
Rabbit Ridge
Raymond Hill
Red Truck
Redwood
Rock Brook
Rutherford Vintners
Salmon Creek
San Antonio Winery
Santa Barbara Crossing
Santa Barbara Landing
Sea Ridge
Silver Ridge
Stone Cellars
The California Winery
Thousand Oaks
Three Knights Vineyards
Trellis

[Food and Wine Pairing]

I'm sorry you had a bad wine experience. I hate those. I travel for work, too, and I have found that renting books on tape from the library helps to pass the time. Of course, it can't erase the frustration of time lost in a traffic jam.
Thanks for the great blog.
Kathleen Lisson