Angels & Cowboys Red Blend

Angels & Cowboys Red Blend is a Zinfandel-led Sonoma County red blend bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2019 vintage earned 93 points from Decanter, while the 2021 vintage received 91 points from James Suckling, affirming its consistency across releases.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Sonoma County, California  |  Style: Multi-Varietal Red Blend  |  Producer: Share A Splash Wine Co. (Cannonball Wine Company)

Production & Heritage

Angels & Cowboys is produced by Share A Splash Wine Co., an arm of Cannonball Wine Company founded by Israeli-born winemaker and entrepreneur Yoav Gilat. The blend is anchored by roughly 60% Zinfandel, supported by Syrah, Petite Sirah, and depending on the vintage, smaller lots of Carignane and Grenache. What distinguishes the winemaking here is a multi-stage blending protocol: kindred components like Zinfandel and Petite Sirah are married early in the cellaring cycle, while other lots undergo extended aging on their own before being incorporated later. All lots are aged exclusively in French oak for six to ten months, lending elegance and structural cohesion rather than heavy-handed woodiness. Cold soaks, early pressing, and extended maceration further contribute to the wine's depth and color extraction.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with briar berry compote and brandied cherries, layered with mocha, blueberry pie, and licorice spice. A thread of toasty French oak and brown cane sugar ties the aromatics together.

Taste: On entry, bright briar fruit and dark cherry meet a juicy, plush mid-palate of honey-berry black fig and velvety plum. The wine is medium- to full-bodied, with a succulent texture and silky, mellow tannins that carry hints of cinnamon, star anise, and clove through a multi-dimensional palate.

Finish: The finish is moderately long with attractive structural tannins that persist without gripping. Lingering notes of hibiscus, crushed stone, and orange peel leave a spice-driven impression that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Angels & Cowboys

This blend shows best at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, poured into a large-bowled glass that lets the aromatic complexity unfold. A few minutes of air after opening helps soften the tannins further. For cocktail-adjacent wine service, Angels & Cowboys works well in a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola), where its fruit density stands up to the sweetness; a Red Wine Spritz with sparkling water and a citrus twist, which plays off the wine's orange peel notes; or a classic Sangria, where its spice and dark fruit profile forms a natural backbone alongside seasonal fruit and brandy.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that call for a wine with enough complexity to feel special but enough approachability to drink freely
• Introducing red blend enthusiasts to Sonoma County Zinfandel-based wines
• Bringing to a barbecue or cookout where bold, fruit-forward reds shine alongside grilled meats
• Gifting to someone who appreciates well-made California reds without single-varietal pretension

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Angels & Cowboys taste like? Angels & Cowboys delivers a juicy, plush palate of dark berries, brandied cherry, and velvety plum, accented by warm baking spices like cinnamon and star anise. The mellow tannins and French oak aging give it a smooth, medium- to full-bodied texture.

How does Angels & Cowboys compare to other Sonoma County red blends? Angels & Cowboys leans on a Zinfandel-dominant backbone rather than the Cabernet Sauvignon base common in many Sonoma red blends, giving it a brighter fruit profile and spicier character. Its exclusive use of French oak and multi-stage blending process also set it apart from more straightforward blends in the region.

Is Angels & Cowboys good for sipping on its own? Yes — its silky tannins, layered fruit, and moderate 14.5% ABV make it a comfortable standalone pour, particularly at slightly cool cellar temperature where the aromatics are most expressive.

Where is Angels & Cowboys made? Angels & Cowboys is produced in Sonoma County, California, by Share A Splash Wine Co., which operates under the Cannonball Wine Company umbrella founded by Yoav Gilat.

What foods pair well with Angels & Cowboys? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's spice and dark fruit; slow-smoked brisket matches its plush body; mushroom risotto echoes its earthy undertones; aged cheddar contrasts nicely with the berry sweetness; and dark chocolate with sea salt mirrors its mocha and briar notes.

What sizes does Angels & Cowboys come in? Angels & Cowboys Red Blend is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Angels & Cowboys worth the price? Angels & Cowboys positions as a mid-range Sonoma County red blend, delivering critic scores in the 90–93 point range and French-oak aging at a price point that significantly undercuts many single-vineyard Sonoma Zinfandels — strong value for the quality tier.

Why Angels & Cowboys?

The multi-stage blending approach — marrying some components early while extending the aging of others — is a more labor-intensive method than most wines at this price point employ. That technique, combined with exclusive French oak maturation, produces a blend that reads as far more refined than its category suggests. With 93 points from Decanter and consistent 90-plus scores from James Suckling, the wine has third-party validation beyond marketing claims. For drinkers who find single-varietal Zinfandel too brash or Cabernet-based blends too tannic, Angels & Cowboys occupies a genuinely useful middle ground — bold enough to satisfy, polished enough to impress.