Arbor Mist Sangria Zinfandel

It smells like a poorly ventilated hair salon Appearance: The Sangria Zinfandel has the young distinction of being the clearest sangria I have every encountered. While it gets points for forgoing the overtly fake coloring of cheaper bum wines, don't go thinking that means this is a more "natural" alternative. It still has the same disturbing, slightly carbonated hiss that these wines emit when cornered and uncapped. It's slightly darker than a pink zinfandel but still far short of true red sangria. Also, it lacks any deliciously redeeming fruity bits.

Bouquet: It smells like a poorly ventilated hair salon. Maybe they're courting the "Ladies Who Lunch" audience? All I smell is spoiled fruit and that nasty cream developing solution from every bad perm and unfortunate DIY bleach job I've ever attempted. When I was in sixth grade my mom had the salon cut my hair to ear length and then spiral curl the shit out of it. I sat in the chair for an hour smelling this vile developing solution and then cried when they unrolled the curlers and my springy afro came to fruition. Wow. Thanks for bringing back all those traumatic memories, Arbor Mist. Arbor Mist Fruits.jpg

?Body: If it weren't for the scent of hair salon, the taste wouldn't be that bad. It's innocuous and light, just like a fruit juice spritzer should be. It lacks the sugar-laden flavor of Boone's and the firewater flavor profile of Cisco (which is also made by the same company). It tastes absolutely nothing like young sangria, though, more like sparkling water mixed with fermented grape juice. Although there were cherries and citrus abound on the label, my taste buds didn't taste a hint of the promised fruitiness.