On my first full day in California, I spent a little time exploring my friend’s wine rack looking for something good to drink. She’s a big fan of white wine so the chances of a red, any red were slim to none. And alas there was no Cabernet Sauvignon to be had but we did find a bottle of Merlot worth a second glance. We placed it to chill in the wine fridge (must be nice to have) before opening.
The bottle was a little out of my bargain wine price range at $12 but certainly not a bad glass for the price. The bottle was playfully simple with a dark glass contrasting against a white label containing dancing silhouetted twins. We enjoyed it with a dinner of vinegar glazed chicken and roasted asparagus; a new recipe for my friend the chef and a new wine for the newbee wino.
The bouquet included hints of nutmeg and vanilla, both things I wo
uld usually associate with a white. There was the slightest hint of pepper that disappeared rapidly after a quick swish around the glass. The swirling released a musty odor, one I have come to associate with the Riesling I had for thanksgiving last year.
Diving straight into the glass I was surprised by structured tannins. Usually I find the Merlot to be too smooth and creamy in comparison to the Cabernet but this had more structure than you would usually anticipate. It was a dry mouthful of grape which worked wonderfully with the tartness of the chicken and was offset by the fresh crunch of the roasted asparagus.
I wouldn’t say it was a bad wine in any sense; actually, it displayed more structure than most Merlots I have experienced. The chances that I would buy it myself are pretty slim. It was a nice alternative to the wine fridge full of whites but nothing in comparison to a good Cabernet.
I think my humble wooden wine rack will continue to host a range of Cabs, for the foreseeable future anyway.
Post a Comment