Double Decker Red Blend

Double Decker Red Blend is a medium-bodied California red wine blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Barbera at 13.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. Produced by Tamas Estates from Central Coast fruit, the 2010 vintage earned a Silver medal at the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Central Coast, California  |  Red Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Barbera)  |  Producer: Tamas Estates

Production & Heritage

Tamas Estates was founded in 1984 by Iván Tamás Fuezy and Steve Mirassou, drawing on deep California winemaking roots. Grapes for Double Decker Red Blend are sourced from multiple Central Coast vineyard properties — including Marina, Raboli, Wente, Smith, and Silva — giving the winemaking team a broad palette of fruit to blend from. Fermentation takes place at cold temperatures in upright stainless steel tanks specifically to preserve aromatics and primary fruit character, after which each varietal component is aged separately in a combination of neutral oak barrels and stainless steel tanks before final blending.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with restrained, smoky notes layered over dark berry fruit. A light, approachable aromatic profile emerges without heavy oak influence, reflecting the neutral-vessel aging.

Taste: On the palate, plummy berry flavors and warm baking spice arrive immediately. The mid-palate carries a juicy, rounded texture with enough residual sweetness to smooth out the mouthfeel, while Petite Sirah adds structure and the Barbera contributes bright acidity beneath the fruit.

Finish: The finish is medium in length with sturdy but muted tannins that avoid the drying sensation common in bigger reds. Lingering berry and subtle spice notes tail off cleanly.

How to Drink Double Decker

Serve at a light cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, to let the fruit and spice come forward without the alcohol becoming prominent. A slight chill keeps the juicy texture in focus.

• Red Wine Sangria: The berry-forward fruit and semi-dry profile make it an ideal base, standing up well to citrus and brandy additions.
• Kalimotxo: The wine's soft tannins and plummy sweetness balance cola's carbonation in this straightforward two-ingredient classic.
• Mulled Wine: Warm spice notes already present in the blend harmonize naturally with cinnamon, clove, and orange peel.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and grilled-meat cookouts where a crowd-friendly red is needed
• Weeknight dinners when you want a reliable, easy-drinking bottle without overthinking the pairing
• Introducing red blends to friends who find single-varietal wines too intense or tannic
• Casual gatherings and game-day entertaining with hearty finger foods

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Double Decker taste like? Double Decker Red Blend delivers plummy berry and baking-spice flavors with a juicy, medium-bodied texture and soft, muted tannins. It finishes clean and semi-dry without an astringent aftertaste.

How does Double Decker compare to Apothic Red? Both are popular California red blends positioned as approachable, fruit-driven everyday wines, but Double Decker leans on a Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Barbera blend sourced from the Central Coast, while Apothic Red uses Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon and tends to show more pronounced vanilla sweetness from oak aging. Double Decker's cold-fermented, neutral-oak approach produces a slightly more restrained, spice-accented style.

Is Double Decker good for beginners? Yes — its semi-dry profile, soft tannins, and accessible berry-spice flavors make it a comfortable starting point for anyone exploring red wines. The medium body avoids overwhelming newer palates.

Where is Double Decker made? Double Decker Red Blend is produced by Tamas Estates in California, using grapes from multiple vineyard sites across the Central Coast, including Marina, Raboli, Wente, Smith, and Silva properties.

What foods pair well with Double Decker? Grilled tri-tip or barbecue ribs match its smoky berry character. Pepperoni pizza or Italian sausage pasta echo its spice notes. Sharp cheddar or aged Gouda complement the wine's fruit and tannin balance. A bean-and-chorizo chili works well with the juicy, semi-dry profile.

What sizes does Double Decker come in? Double Decker Red Blend is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Double Decker worth the price? Double Decker positions as an everyday-value red blend, and its Silver medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition suggests quality that punches above its price tier. For a multi-varietal Central Coast blend at this level, it represents solid drinking without requiring a special occasion to open.

Why Double Decker?

The deliberate cold-fermentation technique in stainless steel sets Double Decker apart from many California red blends that rely heavily on oak to build flavor — here, the fruit and aromatics do the talking. Sourcing from five distinct Central Coast vineyard sites gives the winemaking team at Tamas Estates considerable blending flexibility, allowing vintage-to-vintage consistency. The three-grape blend of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure, Petite Sirah for color and grip, and Barbera for acidity creates a wine balanced enough for the dinner table yet straightforward enough for a glass on its own. A Silver medal at one of the West Coast's most competitive wine evaluations confirms that this is a value-tier bottling producing above-average results.