Merlot Taste Test

So the other night Anthony brought home a couple of Merlot's and made me play 'Pick the Chef's pick'. His wine rep had dropped off these two wines and Anthony was picking one to put on the menu. I was to guess which one.

The first one is a Washington Hills Merlot 2007. I think this wine is not a true Merlot, but rather 76% Merlot and the rest Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes. This combination makes for a very smooth, almost light-bodied red, with very little bite or spice. Anthony thought it was interesting because it had the legs of a medium-bodied wine but feels like a light-bodied when you get in in your mouth. I would call it the Merlot for people who don't necessarily like Merlot. Very drinkable. When I saw that it was a screw-top bottle I suggested that this may be the one he didn't pick, to which he said 'oh, I don't care about that'. Sigh. On to the other wine.

The second wine is Lockwood Vineyards 2005 Merlot. This one is a true Merlot and it is amazing how different it is from the first one. As opposed to the other wine, this Merlot seems to be lighter-bodied in the glass but more fulfilling in the mouth. It definitely presents the characteristic spice that you look for in a Merlot and bouquet smells wonderful and complex. The interesting thing about this winery is that they say they grow their own grapes and only use those grapes to create their wines. This is, of course, the wine he chose to put on the menu. He says it will go really well with the lamb on his menu.

He also gave me his copy of 'Great Wine Made Simple' by Andrea Immer which I have begun reading. Look forward to more educated and informative posts in the future! Haha.

Mas Carlot Marsanne-Roussanne Cuvee Tradition 2003

This is a white wine that Anthony got along with a box of 2005 vintage. It is bottled in a 'red' wine bottle and has a nice yellow straw color. It is 60% marsanne and 40% roussanne French grapes, a common pairing. I spent some time just trying to smell the bouquet of the wine as I didn't really think it showed up very much - Anthony said 'of course it does'. :) It has a smooth minerally but not too acidic flavor. Anthony thinks of wet grass and maybe peach or honey. I am still in search of a white that would bring me back to whites and this one doesn't do that, though it is passable. It apparently retails for around $34, although it looks like it's a difficult wine to get a hold of.
On a side note, Anthony very helpfully pointed out that if I inhale at the same time that I am taking a sip of the wine, I can get a different, perhaps more complete taste of the bouquet. When I tried this, I found that the wine tasted completely different - much smoother. Anyway, I thought that was interesting. Basic, I know, but I'm interested and excited to try new things. :)

Chateau La Pierre Levee Cotes de Castillon 2005

This is apparently a fairly popular wine and vintage as I've found it noted on quite a few food and wine blogs already. I can definitely see why. This is a Bordeaux so I was excited to try it. It is a mixture of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the top two grapes grown in the Cotes de Castillon area of Bordeaux. It is a smooth, tannony but not too acidic. I felt that I could definitely taste the fruit flavors - like cherry and maybe plum. It had an oaky taste to me and a medium-bodied feel. I really enjoyed the bottle and found myself finishing it off in one seating rather than dragging it out as I often find I do. For around $15 a bottle, it is a steal, in my opinion. If you can find it.

Bottle Shock

I am very ashamed at how long it has taken me to add a post to this blog. We have tried so many wonderful wines over the last couple of months and even attended a super fun wine tasting, so there has been no shortage of things to write about. There is no excuse. I pledge to try to be better.

I must rave about a great wine movie we saw recently. Bottle Shock is about a wine shop owner who in 1976 decided have a blind tasting competition in France to see if the new California wines could compete with the French. It is a really good movie and I recommend it to anyone who loves wine. Occasionally the owners of the inn Anthony works for will give him a bottle of wine for a gift. We were excited to note that one of the wines we were given is from the winery that won the competition. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars won for their 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon. Anthony hasn't let us open our bottle yet. Rent it! It's a good movie!

This is the wine aerator that my parents gave Anthony for Christmas and he loves it! 'When wine is poured in the vinturi, its design creates an increase in the wine's velocity and a decrease in its pressure. This pressure difference draws in air, which is mixed with wine for perfect aeration.' I would suggest it for anyone who drinks a fair amount of wine and appreciates a good glass. It even comes with a little stand and a bag to carry it in. My dad has one too. You like yours, right Dad? :)