It has the plum aroma and flavor expected from the varietal, but there’s also a ton of cherry and some berry. It’s like lead and rhythm guitarists that can play off each other to add depth to a song, rather than just a wanking solo full of fingerboard acrobatics.

Like any good song, a backbone is required, and acidity + tannins are this wine’s drum and bass. They keep it popping and lively, but also give it its structure.

The song ends with cherry, plum and spicy cedar that together fade out for as long as the final piano chord of the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.”

I don’t mean to suggest that this red is a classic, on par with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” It’s not. But, It’s a whole lot closer to that than it is to “Talk Dirty to Me.”

Cheers,
J.J. Walker – er, TSW

WoW
…really excited about wine

A lot of people not so fond of merlot are thinking specifically of California merlot and, even more specifically, big and fat, low-acid, high-fruit, heavy oak, California merlot.

Damning all of a type just because a few rub you the wrong way is like hating all rock n’ roll because of Poison. Now really, is that fair to Led Zeppelin? Is it fair to yourself?!?

Of course not, and this wine is a great example of merlot that rocks, obvious “Good Times” references not withstanding.