If You See Kay Red Blend

If You See Kay Red Blend is a full-bodied Paso Robles red wine bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Created by Jayson Woodbridge — the winemaker behind Hundred Acre, Cherry Pie, and Layer Cake — this multi-varietal blend earned a Silver medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a Silver at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Paso Robles, California  |  Red Blend  |  Winemaker: Jayson Woodbridge & Chris Radomski

Production & Heritage

If You See Kay draws its fruit from Red Cedar Vineyard, which holds certification from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The blend is built on a backbone of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, filled out with 33% Petit Sirah, 14% Zinfandel, and 7% Petit Verdot — a mashup that prioritizes density and dark-fruit intensity. Woodbridge, known for his "risk everything" winemaking philosophy, designed this label to break away from conventional style boundaries, positioning it as an approachable but unapologetically bold California red.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with opulent mulberry and dark ripe Bing cherry, layered with hints of leather, cedar, and vanilla. Beneath those primary notes sits a thread of crushed blackberry and cassis that deepens as the wine breathes.

Taste: On entry, dense ripe plum and dark cherry fruit coat the palate with immediate richness. The mid-palate reveals succulent juiciness that balances firm yet fine-grained tannins, while a meaty smokiness adds savory complexity. The mouthfeel is full and powerful, yet creamy in texture and well-structured throughout.

Finish: The finish lingers with dark berry concentration and subtle cedar spice. Tannins remain smooth and polished, leaving a balanced impression without excessive dryness or heat.

How to Drink If You See Kay

This blend shows its best qualities at cellar temperature (60–65°F), poured into a large-bowled glass to let the aromatics open up. Decanting for 20–30 minutes softens the Petit Sirah tannins and brings forward the vanilla and cedar notes. For cocktail-adjacent serves: use it in a classic Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) for a casual backyard drink that benefits from the wine's inherent sweetness; try it in a Red Wine Sangria where the dark fruit and spice notes anchor citrus and brandy additions beautifully; or build a New York Sour by floating it atop a whiskey sour, where the wine's density creates a striking visual and flavor contrast.

Best For

• Introducing someone to bold California red blends without a steep price commitment
• Weekend grilling sessions with charred red meats and smoky sides
• A conversation-starting label for casual dinner parties
• Gifting to fans of Jayson Woodbridge's other projects like Layer Cake or Cherry Pie

Frequently Asked Questions

What does If You See Kay taste like? It delivers dense dark cherry and ripe plum flavors supported by fine-grained tannins, with underlying notes of blackberry, cassis, cedar, and a touch of meaty smokiness. The texture is creamy and full-bodied at 14% ABV.

How does If You See Kay compare to Layer Cake? Both come from winemaker Jayson Woodbridge, but If You See Kay is a multi-varietal Paso Robles blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot), while Layer Cake wines are typically single-varietal bottlings from various regions. If You See Kay tends toward a denser, more tannic profile owing to its significant Petit Sirah component.

Is If You See Kay good for sipping on its own? Yes — its creamy texture, balanced tannins, and layered dark-fruit character make it a satisfying standalone pour, especially after a brief decant to let the aromatics develop fully.

Where is If You See Kay made? Current vintages source fruit from Red Cedar Vineyard in Paso Robles, on California's Central Coast. Some earlier vintages of the label were produced in Lazio, Italy, before production shifted stateside.

What foods pair well with If You See Kay? Grilled ribeye steak pairs naturally with the wine's dark fruit and smoky undertones. Braised short ribs echo the meaty richness on the palate. Aged cheddar or Gouda complement the cedar and vanilla aromatics. Wood-fired pizza with sausage and roasted peppers matches its boldness, and dark chocolate desserts mirror the wine's ripe berry sweetness.

What sizes does If You See Kay come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is If You See Kay worth the price? It positions as an accessible, everyday-premium red blend — delivering winemaking pedigree from Jayson Woodbridge at a fraction of what his top-tier Hundred Acre wines command. For a sustainably farmed, multi-medal Paso Robles blend, it sits comfortably in the value-driven category.

Why If You See Kay?

The most compelling case for this wine is the team behind it: Jayson Woodbridge built his reputation on Hundred Acre, a cult Napa Cabernet, and this blend channels that same no-compromise mindset into a far more approachable price tier. The four-grape blend — anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Sirah — produces a wine with more structural complexity than many single-varietal competitors at the same level. Sustainably farmed fruit from a certified vineyard adds a layer of provenance that many comparable labels lack. With Silver medals from both the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and TEXSOM, the wine has third-party validation to back up its bold style.