Best Buy! Per capita, Idaho may have more mavericks in its wine industry than most, and Jed Glavin of Split Rail Winery in the Boise suburb of Garden City continues to push out new ideas. His red version from the Gem State’s first wine-in-a-can program uses Rhône varieties, which makes perfect sense for the Snake River Valley, offering a GSM-style blend with Syrah (60%), Counoise (12%), Cinsault (12%), Grenache (10%) and Mourvèdre. It opens with aromas of black cherry, dried strawberry and currant with hints of coffee, saddle leather and lime peel. It continues down that darker red fruit profile with Bing cherry, black currant and raspberry in the flavors. There’s some good tannin texture and meatiness to the midpalate before a flood of bright acidity leads to an easy finish with sage and mint. Glavin removes any pretense with his food pairing ideas — chicken nuggets or pork and beans. Editor’s note: The retail price listed in this review is the equivalent of a standard 750-ml bottle. A can retails for $7, and they are available through the website and select retailers in Idaho.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 1,000 cases
Alcohol: 14%
Ok…so there are MANY MANY MANY people who are trying to cut back from drinking a half a bottle of wine a night. A friend of mine told me that her solution was to buy a small can or mini bottle at the supermarket and when it was gone, it was gone. She said that the thing that changed her mind was seeing the “Freakshow” brand of good red wine (although their can is a bit small )…So, I went to the store and bought a can of 14 hands cab, a can of Freakshow, a mini bottle of Black Oak (YUK), and a can of your Le Commandante. I almost bought a “House Wine” as well…but started there….I did a taste test with myself and a co-quarantining housemate and we both chose your Le Commandante over all the others. Great flavor, dry, spicy, rich… In any case, we don’t have to open a whole bottle, it can be thrown in a backpack, in the car for camping trips, and doesn’t sit on the counter whispering “drink more” when two generous pours are enough. I thank you and wish you all the best. You can market yourselves to the “trying to cut back” “drink less wine” outdoorsy types who also appreciate good wine!