The color is a surprisingly deep garnet that’s also remarkably clear. It’s not getting any of its depth from unfiltered floaties.

The nose is bright with red cherry, a little berry, spice and a good amount of oak. It rises out of the glass faster than your credit card bill rose last month.

The flavors that come through are complex (featuring everything in the nose) along with chocolate and just a touch of plum. The mouthfeel is smooth and almost deceptively rich. It’s velvety elegance belies its lushness, just like the fun bubbles in all the Champagne you had at New Year’s belied the hangover they caused.

But that’s now all in the past, thankfully. What’s ahead is some great merlot for you to get yourself as a belated Christmas present.

Cheers,
TSW

Are they gone yet?

Can we return to a less chaotic time; a time when each week didn’t greet at least one new holiday? Can we go back drinking normal wine, instead of feeling like we have to serve the best-of-the-best just because there’s a tree in the living room?

I hope so, because I’m pretty much out of old, rare and/or weird wines. And besides, there are plenty of great wines masquerading as rather pedestrian.

For proof, check out this pretty-easy-to-find, not-terribly-expensive merlot from Wild Horse. If you think of California merlot as vanilla ice cream, this is that gourmet vanilla ice cream with little flecks of Madagascar vanilla beans throughout.