Mini-reviews 159: The “Four wines that are popular, but I’m not sure why” edition

Reviews of wines that don’t need their own post, but are worth noting for one reason or another. Look for it on the fourth Friday of each month. This month, four wines that are popular for reasons I can’t figure out.

• Viña Robles The Arborist 2019 ($17, sample, 14.5%): California red blend is noticeably sweet — think chocolate cherry cough syrup. Which, apparently, lots of people like.

• Pasqua 11 Minutes Rose 2020 ($17, sample, 12.5%): Focus group-style Italian rose that is overpriced, underwhelming, and fairly bland — maybe a hint of stone fruit. And the bottle weighs 21 1/2 ounces, much too much. Imported by Pasqua USA

• Stel + Mar Rose NV ($13, sample, 12.7%): Bulk California rose with hipster label, berry fruit, and a touch of sweetness for those who like that. Taste this next to something from a quality producer, and you can tell the difference. And did you know that non-vintage dating is super cool these days?

• Be Human Red Blend 2018 ($15, sample, 14,5%): See the first review. That they taste so much alike, but come from different wine regions (this is Washington state), is just one more reason to worry about the future of the wine business.

Photo: “angry man 1” by Chris Gallagher1 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.