The Federalist Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Blend 2017 California, USA 75cl

The Federalist is a Californian brand in the Terlato stable, themed around America’s founding fathers and known for confident, crowd-pleasing reds. It sources from several of the state’s growing areas, choosing fruit to suit each style in the range rather than tying itself to a single vineyard.

This bottling is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend given an unusual twist: a period of ageing in charred bourbon barrels. That finishing step is the wine’s signature, layering the toasty, sweet-spiced character of bourbon wood over ripe Californian fruit for a deliberately bold house style.

The 2017 comes from a broad Californian appellation, blended for consistency and impact. It is built to drink now, with plenty of upfront generosity and a warming presence that plays to the barrel treatment.

Expect aromas of blackcurrant and dark berry wrapped in vanilla, caramel and a smoky, toasted-oak note from the bourbon barrels. The palate is full-bodied and rich, the tannins ripe, the finish long and sweetly spiced. This is a red that wants hearty food: a charred ribeye, sticky barbecue ribs, or a mature hard cheese.

If you like a big, oak-driven Californian red and enjoy trying something a little different, the bourbon-barrel finish gives this real talking-point appeal. It is a bottle for cooler evenings and relaxed sharing, where its warmth and scale are exactly the point. Give it a little air before serving so the bourbon-barrel spice settles into the fruit, and use a generous glass to let those toasty, sweet notes open up fully.