2001 Crandall-Brooks Napa Valley

[hotwine]

Picked this up at World Market. Nice enough cheapo cab to accompany left-over beef stew: dark red color, nose is authentic with cassis and pencil shavings, red fruit comes on up front, silky mouthfeel, modest finish, 13.5% alc/vol and about $11. Internet search shows this stuff is a "private label" bottling for .... World Market. Doesn't seem heavy enough to be a Gallo product, but suspect it's from another CA biggie with excess fruit to unload. Could be a lot worse, and much better than most low-budget cabs I've tried. Sure, I'll pick up a few to keep on hand for those cab occasions that don't warrant the good stuff.