So how does Douglass Hill, the cheapy blue-collar wine stand up to the poor-man's expensive wine- Black Swan? I conducted a brief side-by-side tasting to see which one is the better choice for this vintage (year) and varietal (grape.) I started with Douglass Hill which was a little over-ripe, but mellowed out into some earthiness and berries. Definitely on the dry side. After a quick palate cleanse, I dug into the Black Swan which was heavy on the fruit punch yet still delivers a bit of boldness. Back to the Douglass Hill which now presents flavors of Coca-Cola and black licorice. And a finish off to the taste-off with the Black Swan, which tastes exactly the same as the first sip.
Final thoughts- The Douglass Hill is still a bargain at $2 even though it is a bit lackluster and fruit-less. The Black Swan rivals some top-notch wines at many wineries I have had the pleasure of visiting. This Black Swan wine is a good example of a cheap wine being as good as some of the expensive ones. In the case of Douglass Hill, it needs a bit more work. (Douglass Hill does make a decent Merlot, so not all is lost!)
I have to give this match to Black Swan hands-down.
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