It is mind-boggling the amount of decisions that are made that go into a finished bottle of wine. From what grapes to use and in what proportions, where they are sourced from, which involves the soil, microclimates, correlation to the sun, sugar/acid ratios, and so much more. Even after the grapes have made it to the winery, there is grape sorting, choices of yeast, type of fermentation vessel, type filtration, aging vessels, and the final blend of the wine. After the wine is in the bottles and the label design has to be determined, pricing and distribution must be addressed. These are just a fraction of the seemingly endless types of decisions that must be made to bring you one bottle of wine. The end quality of the wine relies on what can only be described as a series of conclusions based on an 'educated guess.'  What a great name for a wine.

Mark Albrecht spent years employed in the culinary and retail world, including 13 years at Cost Plus World Market. At Cost Plus, he eventually took on the role of working with winemakers and vineyards in Europe, South America, Australia, and the US, putting together first-to-market deals and exclusive offerings for wine lovers. His favorite task was finding wines that drank well beyond their price, understanding that wine lovers everywhere love discovering bottles of wine that may not cost a fortune but taste like they do. He helped launch their wine program and was instrumental in helping develop several prominent wine labels, including Blackstone (Merlot), some brands for Coppola Wines, and working on re-branding work for one of Domain Chandon's wines. Cline Cellars approached Mark in his role as the buyer at Cost Plus World Market, wanting to create a new label for Cline wines. The idea for this label was based on a vintage red firetruck, which was the number one selling collectible item available from Cost Plus World Market. At about this time, the owner of Cost Plus World Market bought an original painting of a red truck that became the label of one of the most recognizable wines in California. Also, during his time there, the number of stores expanded from 30 to over 300, and the wine program he oversaw also grew significantly.

Because of Mark's creative bent and capacity to excel at branding, his background in the wine industry, and numerous personal connections made over the years, it made sense for him to start his own label. He remembered how people would walk into a wine store and begin looking for a wine and making guesses about what they would like. It might be a wine region they know, or a vintage, or a label they have seen before but never tried, but they are making educated guesses along the way before deciding what to try. Knowing this, Mark started making his wine, calling it "Educated Guess." He sold his house in the Oakland Hills to help raise money, and with capital help from friends, he launched the first vintage of Educated Guess in 2005, which came out of the gates roaring with sales of 20,000 cases. Mark worked with several famous growers in Napa Valley and unveiled the Educated Guess Napa Cabernet, keeping in mind the credo that wine lovers love a bargain if they can find one. In a world of $100 Napa Cab, Mark decided to bring a Napa Valley wine value to the world, and to this day, almost 20 years later, the Educated Guess Napa Cab still retails under $30 and still receives rave reviews with sales of around 100,000 cases.

Expanding on Educated Guess's formula for success, finding great grapes, to make great wine that drinks well beyond their price point, they are introducing a 2021 Educated Guess California Cabernet that retails for less than $15. Expanding their search beyond Napa Valley, they are sourcing amazing fruit from Crimson Ridge Vineyards in the Red Hills of Lake County, 650 acres which are planted on the hillsides between 2,000-2,500 feet elevations (only 3% of California's vineyards are above 1,000 feet). Interestingly, Crimson Ridge Vineyards is owned by Andy Beckstoffer. This Napa Valley pioneer icon saw the early potential of the Red Hills region in Lake County and now owns 1300 acres of vines there. The rest of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah is sourced from a historic family vineyard in Lodi.

Winemaker Macario Montoya joined Educated Guess in 2017, right as Mark Albrecht began expanding the lineup of wines he produces. Mark and Macario have children around the same age and got to know each other in the pickup line after school. Macario was working as an assistant winemaker at Pina Cellars, a smaller winery in Napa that specializes in high-end single vineyard offerings, when one day, Mark half-jokingly asked if he ever thought about making wines together. Macario enters his seventh vintage as the winemaker at Educated Guess.

This is the first vintage of Educated Guess California Cabernet Sauvignon. Reviews are just starting to come in on this wine, and from what I have seen, they are impressed. One fact remains that Mark Albrecht knows how to create winning wines of great value for the dollar you spend.

We are excited to introduce the latest addition to our Educated Guess family, the EG by Educated Guess California Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is sourced from two exceptional vineyards in Northern California: Crimson Ridge Vineyard in Lake County, and a historic family vineyard in Lodi famous for growing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. ¬This wine showcases Cabernet Sauvignon's versatility, highlighting both fantastic winegrowing regions. A bright, fruit forward wine with supple tannins makes this a crowd pleaser. Petite Sirah contributes beautiful color and spice, while splashes of Petit Verdot and Malbec round out the mouthwatering finish.



Interestingly enough his label was rejected the first time it was submitted to the TTB because they indicated that the formulas were a road map to making wine at home and shouldn't be provided on a commercial bottle of wine.

Ripe and mellow character of dark berries, plum skins, blue flowers and sweet spices. Full-bodied, deep and succulent with powdery tannins and a fruit-forward, supple finish. James Suckling 90 pts

This is a full-bodied red, complete with chewy tannins that are well-met by the dark fruits and savory oak tones. Find notes of black currant, black cherry, toasted wood, fennel, tarragon, star anise and a hint of leather. Wine Enthusiast 89 pts

Educated Guess California Cabernet 2021

I found some educated wine geeks to offer their opinions and descriptive adjectives in tasting this wine. Because of the final cost, we did not have high hopes for this wine. We were proven very wrong. There simply is no other $6 bottle of Californian Cabernet better than this wine. There, I said it, prove me wrong. I pulled the cork, and it had a dark, inky red color with blackberry fruit and spice aromas. Flavors in the mouth are full of ripe, juicy fruit berries, black plums, and hints of leather. Lively acid keeps the fruit pure and not cloying and is remarkably restrained. Long dark cherry finish with hints of spice. A crowd pleaser or even an easy wine to pair with a burger or pizza. We bought most of what the distributor had, and it is a genuine possibility that we will run out of inventory. 

Regular Price: $14.99

*Sale Price is on 12+ bottle purchase

 Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case

 $60 Mail In Rebate on 12 bottles

$6 a bottle final Cost after MIR

*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.

We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

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Cheers!

John Hannum,

Fine & Rare Wine Specialist

Attleboro

628 Washington St.

Norwood

942 Providence Hgwy.

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376 Main Street.

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