Bear Flag operates out of Modesto, but its grapes come from all over California. The company focuses on four very affordable, non-vintage wines, each with distinct personalities — and eye-catching, post-industrial label designs — meant to invoke a theme and inform you exactly what you’re getting before you ever crack open the bottle.

We tried two wines from the company. Thoughts follow.

NV Bear Flag Bright White Wine Blend – A mix of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewurztraminer, Bright White offers aromatics plus solid acidity. The body is light and airy, and citrus character is strong. Tart finish brings in more citrus fruit, predominantly lime. Hardly refined, but what are you expecting for 9 bucks? Very pleasant. A- / $9

NV Bear Flag Dark Red Wine Blend – Blend Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, and Tempranillo and you have this beast of a wine, a rough and ultra-jammy bruiser that lives up to its name. Chocolate notes are at odds with the fresh wood character here, and the whole affair is a mixed bag, out of balance and too potpourri-like to be as fun as its label would like it to be.  Probably could have stood for more time in oak, but then it wouldn’t be a sub-10-dollar wine. B- / $9

bearflagwine.com

NV Bear Flag Bright White Wine Blend

$9

9

Rating

9.0/10

About Post Author

Christopher Null

Christopher Null is the founder and editor in chief of Drinkhacker. A veteran writer and journalist, he also operates Null Media, a bespoke content creation company.

See author's posts

Related Stories:

Review: 2016 Bear Flag Zinfandel Sonoma County Review: 2015 Bear Flag Zinfandel Sonoma County Review: 2010 Clarksburg Wine Company Chenin Blanc Wines Review: Wines of Pali, 2010 Vintage