200 Gallons Reserva 2021

During Prohibition, the Section 29 ‘loophole’ allowed each U.S. household to produce 200 gallons of wine per year for ‘personal use.’ (That’s 1,008 bottles!) Inspired by this surprising history, superstar winemaker Jaime Quendera (below) set out to make the stunning 200 Gallons Reserva.

Another shocking fact: the go-to grape for these intrepid home winemakers was Alicante Bouschet. This Portuguese native was widely planted in California at the time, and beloved for its deep, dark wines. Today, it’s Jaime’s specialty.

Jaime sourced the grapes from rare 100-year-old vines, which yield grapes with exceptionally concentrated flavors. For a unique twist, Jaime aged the wine for 12 months in custom double casks. The top and bottom are French oak (imparting subtle spice), while the long side planks are American oak (for vanilla notes).

The result is an ultra-smooth Reserva, brimming with ripe black cherry, raspberry, plum and those oaky-vanilla-spice accents. One sip and you’ll understand why Gilbert & Gaillard judges awarded the previous vintagea gold medal. If you want it to be a winner in your house, serve it with pork, dark-meat poultry or hearty stews.

A must-try for fans of BIG powerhouse reds. Secure your case today (no bootlegging required!).