A couple months ago, some Charles Shaw Nouveau took an unexpected trip off my balcony in a Wine Skin.

Somewhat unexpectedly, it survived the 14 foot fall.  Which meant of course, it was time to try the wine.  A couple of months later, and Charles Shaw Nouveau is now over a year old, which is pretty old for a Nouveau wine, which you’d want to drink fresh.  So given the fall, and the age, how is Charles Shaw Nouveau 2014?

Sight:  A lighter ruby core with a watery edge, and more hot pink toward the sides.

Smell:  There’s a macerated raspberry and strawberry smell going on, with a bit of black cherry jello.   It’s fresh, but definitely a bit warm with a hint of dust and green herbs.

Sip:  Thin, watery, and bright, it starts with a lot of raspberry and underripe strawberry.    There’s a bitter under current, and a muddling of red berries and currants.  Things are fresh, but a little stemmy or herbal.

Savor:  The ending is oddly tannic, almost aggressively so, with a bit of red fruit lumped in.

Considering Charles Shaw Nouveau is a year old, and took a trip off a balcony in a wine skin, and cost less than $5, it’s not terrible.  With that in mind, it’s also not exactly something I’d go run and buy a case of.  Kind of like the Identifying Wood meme, ‘ yup, it’s wine’ might be the most applicable thing to say here.  Fans of lighter acidic reds can give this one a try, but big red lovers should steer clear.  Keep your expectations in check, and Charles Shaw Nouveau will provide a wine experience.

Verdict:  Bright, Raspberry, Stemmy, Simple
Price: $3.79
Napa and Sonoma, California
Looking for a second opinion?  Check out Bottle Babble’s take.

Special thanks to a friend for the Australian bottle holder!  Love it!