Reverse Wine Snob

Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good

  • About
  • Aldi® Picks
  • Costco® Picks
  • Trader Joe’s® Picks
  • FREE GUIDE
  • Insider Deals
menu icon
go to homepage
Get Our Free Guide!
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE GUIDE!
  • Insider Deals
  • Best Of Lists
    • - Costco
    • - Trader Joe's
    • - Aldi
  • About
  • The Rating System
  • More Helpful Links
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Collusion Red Wine - On The Up And Up

    By: Jon Thorsen Published: March 28, 2019 Last Updated: May 30, 2021

    No special investigative skills needed to see that this is an honestly good red blend from the Columbia Valley, the Collusion Red Wine from Josh Phelps and Grounded Wine Co.

    Collusion Red Wine - On The Up And Up

    43% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Malbec and 4% Syrah from Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain in Columbia Valley, Washington. The wine is aged in 30% new French oak barrels.

    Sample submitted for review. The Collusion Red Wine has an SRP of $22 but is available for as low as $17. 5,000 cases produced.

    From the winery:

    Collusion tips its hat to the rich history of the west during prohibition, commending those who kept the industry alive by any means.

    This initial release of Collusion confirms our belief that there is a huge untapped potential for phenomenal Bordeaux-varietal red blends in the Columbia Valley growing region. The 2016 Collusion was made from select vineyard blocks with balanced yields, resulting in a very focused and well-structured wine. The slight addition of 4% Syrah added aromatic complexity in the form of warm, earthy spice to the final blend.

    14.1% Alcohol

    Given the name and even the vintage of today's wine, it's impossible not to connect it to recent national events, but as the label states the name itself comes from prohibition and the not always legal means by which the wine industry was kept alive.

    The 2016 Collusion Red Wine from Josh Phelps and Grounded Wine Co. begins with a pleasing aroma of blackberry, black cherry, cedar and a bit of black olive. This one needs quite a bit of time to open up (give it a couple of hours) but then it is really quite good. Tasting this medium to full-bodied wine reveals juicy blackberry, lots of beautiful spice and good acidity plus leather, black tea and black pepper. It ends with a smooth, dry finish of long-lasting oaky spice. The bottom line? There are no special investigative skills needed to see that this red blend is on the up and up.

    Ready to buy the Collusion Red Wine? Check your local retailers.

    2016 Collusion Red Wine

    TASTE: 9 COST: 4
    OVERALL RATING: 7.8

    Highly Recommended

    Looking for more of The Best Red Blends Under $20? Check out our giant list!

    The Best Red Blends Under $20!

    Filed Under: Highly Recommended, Red Blends, Washington

    << Hostaria Verona - Experience The Best of Verona
    Ferraton Pere et Fils Plan de Dieu - A Little Piece of Heaven >>

    About Jon Thorsen

    Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! Read more about me...

    Reverse Wine Snob Insider Deals Header Square

    Limited Time offers with amazing discounts just for our readers.

    Don't Miss Out!

    About Reverse Wine Snob

    Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good! Jon Thorsen is an independent wine consumer who has been helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. If you're new to Reverse Wine Snob® sign up for my free guide and don't miss our exclusive Insider Deals! Read more about Reverse Wine Snob in the news and about me.

    Reverse Wine Snob Logo

    Join over 450,000 followers on social media!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Get Our Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Free Guide! How To Drink Great Wine Without Breaking The BankReady to start drinking the best wine of your life, and save money doing it? Sign up for our 5 Day Free Guide!

    Learn More

    Helpful Links

    • - Ask The Expert Series
    • - Browse by Variety, Region, etc.
    • - Buy My Book on Amazon
    • - Get Our Free Guide
    • - How To Choose A Good Bottle of Wine
    • - Insider Deals
    • - Insider Deal FAQ
    • - Printable Lists of Recommended Wines
    • - Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery
    • - The Rating System
    • - Wine Tasting Basics

    • - Advertise
    • - Contact Info
    • - Submit Samples for review

    How To Drink Great Wine...Without Breaking The Bank

    Tired of wasting money on bad wine? Sign up for our Free Guide!

    No commitments, no spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Best Of Lists!

      • - Aldi Wine
      • - Best Pizza Wines
      • - Best Red Wines of 2022
      • - Box Wines
      • - Cabernet Sauvignon
      • - Chardonnay
      • - Chianti
      • - Costco Wine
      • - French Wines
      • - Italian Wines
      • - Malbec
      • - Merlot
      • - Oregon Wines
      • - Organic Wines
      • - Pinot Noir
      • - Red Blends
      • - Rosé
      • - Riesling
      • - Sauvignon Blanc
      • - Spanish Wines
      • - Sparkling Wine
      • - Syrah
      • - Thanksgiving Wines
      • - Trader Joe's Wine
      • - Wedding Wine
      • - Vegan Wines
      • - Zinfandel
      • And Many More Best of Lists

    Reverse Wine Snob®: Wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.

    Copyright © 2011–2023 · Reverse Wine Snob, LLC. | Privacy, Editorial & Advertising Policy