Viognier, BECKER, Texas

March 2013 at the Lyon International Wine Competition Becker Vineyards received the silver award for this 2012 Viognier!!!  A testament to how well this grape vine grows in Texas.  But do not take my word for it, go to the Vintage Texas blog where Dr. Kane reports the dramatic results of a recent blind tasting: Vintage Texas Blog.

• LUXURIOUS
• Yellow Peaches
• Mango
• Vanilla 
• Creamery Butter
• Rose Petals

The fruit for Becker’s Viognier is sourced from three vineyards, Bingham, Martin, and Reddy. Each of them surrounds the Texas High Plains, an area where the vineyards are typically planted between 3,300 and 3,500 feet elevation.  The Beckers pioneered this wine for Texas.  Andrea Immer Robinson, Master Sommelier, has been a big fan of the Becker Vineyards' Viognier. "One of the best Viogniers made in America, so it's worth the search. Gorgeous white peach and floral scents and tangerine-mango flavors," Andrea said.  And when reviewed by Wine Spectator Magazine, Matthew DeBord said;"Bunny and Richard Becker have raised the bar in Texas by producing wines that have achieved regional character."

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Blanc du Bois, DRY, HAAK, Texas

Pronounced “Blahnk-Du-Bwah”, a hybrid grape with characteristics of early ripening and importantly Pierce’s Disease resistance; making it ideal for growing in the Gulf Coast region. Blanc Du Bois originated from the grape breeding program at the Central Florida Research and Education Center.   Haak Vineyards was one of the first wineries in the country to cultivate Blanc du Bois. Now with 3 acres filled with 1800 vines this wine is history in the making. And history tastes great...

• REFRESHING
• Fresh Citrus 
• Grapefruit
• Green Apple
• Floral
• Herbal Notes

Texas is leading the wine industry in production of Blanc Du Bois with more than 150 acres in production (in 2012) in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state and more than 20 commercial wines.  Much of this success can be credited to Raymond Haak.  Grape growing started as ahobby for him in 1969 and grew into what is today a destination for many locals and a major tourist attraction for Santa Fe, Texas and Galveston County on the Texas Gulf Coast.   The winery consists of more than 25,000 sq. ft., including an 1,800 sq. ft. cellar, which is used for storing and aging wines in oak barrels. Artwork throughout the winery is reminiscent of Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal with many angels watching over and protecting the vines and grapes.

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White Zinfandel, BERINGER, California

Beringer’s California Collection boasts some of the best-selling wines in the country. Fruit-forward and smooth, these wines offer dependable taste for casual drinkers.  Beringer White Zinfandel is known as “America’s favorite White Zinfandel” and to appreciate what that means understand that Sutter Home says: "One out of every ten bottles of table wine opened in America is white zinfandel."  This is a VERY popular wine category.

• FRUIT-PUNCH
• Red Berry
• Citrus
• Melon
• Subtle Nutmeg
• Hints of Clove

The grapes selected for Beringer's California Collection wines are from prime locations bathed in warm sunshine the majority of the day, to yield the most ripe, sun-kissed fruit flavors in the grapes.  By keeping the juice in contact with the grapes’ red skins for approximately three hours (a very short time,) a light blush color was retained. Beringer’s winemakers then used slow, cool fermentations to preserve the vibrant, fresh strawberry, honeydew, and citrus aromas and flavors.

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Moscato, LLANO ESTACADO, American

Llano Moscato is a wine made in the tradition of the classic Piedmonte wines with a special Texas accent.  Just as in Italy, Llano Moscato is crafted from the Moscato Bianco (White Muscat) grape.  In the tradition of Alessandria and Cuneo, States in Piedmonte, Italy.   This wine was produced at Llano Estacado Winery from grapes and juice grown in Texas, New Mexico and California.  And, in the true Spirit of Texas, they have chosen to label this exciting, wine with a picture of one of Texas' most beloved wildflowers...Texas Bluebonnets.

• EASYGOING
• Tangerine-Zest 
• Key-Lime
• Honeysuckle
• Green Grapes
• Ripe Peach Nuances

This wines expressive aromatics and taste of sweetness comes from the grape and a special process known as "stopped-fermentation".  Through this process the winemaker is able to retain the natural sweetness and flavor of the grape along with a touch of "frizzante" (effervescence).  Llano Moscato is low in alcohol (10.0%) and retains small amounts of natural sugar and CO2 from primary fermentation.
Llano Estacado opened  in 1976 with the semingly simple mission to embody the fabulous potential of Texas wine. They began with 1,300 cases of wine releases in 1977 and have grown and improved to reach market sales of approximately 170,000 cases annually. Their continued growth with new ideas, new innovations, new wines and new technology, all combining to create a synergy that continues to propel Llano Estacado to the forefront -- where it remains as the best selling Premium Winery in Texas.

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Pinot Grigio, MARETIMA, Delle Venezie, Veneto, Italy

The two Italian words “mare" (sea) and "terra” (land) are the origins of the name Maretima.  These two components come together creating the climate that results in Mediterranean scents and flavors captured in this bottle of wine.  And, it is more than just taste; it communicates the emotions, originating from the wine culture, passing through the selection of grapes, to the production techniques, and the continuous research of men and women who work the land in harmony and in complete respect of the environment.  It is more than you expect from the first glance...

• DELICATE
• Hints of Sage
• Lemon
• Green Apple
• Tropical Fruit
• Walnut / Almond

The Veneto, where this wine comes from, is among the foremost wine-producing regions in the world, both for quality and quantity.  This area has cultivated grapes since the Bronze Age, or about five thousand years ago.  The subregion Colli Euganei is characterized by steep, almost triangular hills, caused millennia ago by volcanoes. Here medieval hamlets and Benedictine monasteries, continue to this day.  This unspoiled landscapes is part of a “Parco Regionale” a protected land and is an ideal location for grape growing for winemaking.

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Sauvignon Blanc, VILLA MARIA, "PRIVATE BIN" Marlborough, New Zealand

Fruit for this wine was sourced from vineyards across the Marlborough region. A blend of fruit grown in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys spanning a range of different meso-climates were incorporated. Careful attention was paid to vine health to give the vine the best chance to optimize the season and develop strong, clean flavors.

• DISTINCTIVE
• ripe gooseberry
• passionfruit
• fresh citrus lime
• exotic herbaceous
• exuberant

VILLA MARIA went from a one-man band to a global brand in just 50 years!  In 1961, at just 21 years of age, George Fistonich leased five acres of land from his father in Mangere, Auckland and started off with just an acre of vines. He harvested his first grapes in 1962 and made his first wine under the name Villa Maria.  Throughout the 1960s Villa Maria was a one-man band, with George’s wife, Gail, supporting him in his venture. He made dry red and white wines, sourcing grapes from the greater Auckland regions. In the early 1970s he started to employ staff and the company began to expand rapidly.  Today, Villa Maria employs more than 250 permanent staff and exports wine to over 50 countries worldwide.

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Sauvignon Blanc, BENZIGER, SUSTAINABLY GROWN Lake & Sonoma Counties, California

Grapes from select vineyards in both Sonoma and Lake Counties are blended.  Grapes from Sonoma are harvested later and are more aromatic in character, exhibiting enhanced fruit flavors. Fruit from warmer Lake County is harvested earlier in the season and provides an acidic backbone for this wine.

• DISTINCTIVE
• Bright Citrus
• Grapefruit and Lemon
• Floral
• Minerality
• Elegant Softness

The Benziger Family Winery is dedicated to wine making that reveals the true character of the vineyard, the varietal and the vintage in certified-sustainable, organically grown and-Biodynamic® wines defined by individuality and the passion of the people who make them. This wine was made with grapes grown by certified sustainable farming methods. Their sustainable philosophy promotes natural vineyard management, restoration of the land and biodiversity on the estate. We believe these practices result in wines that reflect the authentic flavors, aromas and character of the vineyard AND that is what tastes best!

Sauvignon Blanc, CLOUDY BAY, Marlborough, New Zealand

The winery takes its name from the bay at the eastern extremity of the Wairau Valley, which was named Cloudy Bay by Captain Cook on his voyage to New Zealand in 1770.  It was not until two-hundred and fifteen years later that the first vintage of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc was made.  And, it made New Zealand famous for Sauvignon Blanc and helped every other winery on the island become noticed by the world of thirsty wine drinkers.

• DISTINCTIVE
• Elderflower
• Stone Fruit
• Ripe Citrus 
• Minerality
• Sweet Herbs 

Grapes are from the Rapaura, Fairhall, Renwick and Brancott sub-regions of the Wairau Valley. Free draining, stony soils typify the Rapaura and Renwick areas. The Fairhall and Brancott are predominantly aged alluvial loams containing some clay.  This is a great wine that proves itself again, and again... 96 Points: Gourmet Traveler Wine, March 2013

“After all these years, Cloudy Bay has still got it. It’s encouraging to know that the brand is not merely resting on its laurels. Beautifully harmonious Sauvignon Blanc with a mix of grapefruit, gooseberry and capsicum contrasting with riper tropical and tree fruit characters while the acidity and sweetness are perfectly balanced. The net effect is of an elegant and moderately complex wine that delivers power with great subtlety.” - Bob Campbell MW

And please reply to this blog; 
have you tried this Sauvignon Blanc?

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Riesling, COLUMBIA CREST "Two Vines",,Washington

The summit of Mt. Rainier – the highest mountain in Washington at 14,410 feet – is called “Columbia Crest.”  In 2011 Wine and Spirits magazine names Columbia Crest one of the “American Wineries of the Year” for the first time.  This was a long journey from 1978 when the first 500 acres of vineyard planted in Paterson Washington.  Under the leadership of winemaker Juan Munoz Oca and a great track record of making consistently delicious wines like this one; they have a very bright future!  And we will have many tasty wines to drink!

• MOUTHWATERING
• Mandarin Orange
• Lime
• Wet Stone
• Green Apple
• Apricot Preserves
• Baking Spices

If you have not been studying wine you are most likely to associate Washington State with rain, and a lot of it.  However the Columbia Valley vineyards, where the grapes for this wine are grown are seated east of the Cascade Mountain range. With the peaks of the mountains reaching up to 14,000 feet high, blocking almost all the eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.  Vines are planted north to south on south and southeast facing slopes to catch the sunshine in the summertime.  With just 6 to 8 inches of rainfall annually, the vineyards are 100% drip irrigation.  With intense sun during the growing season and bitterly cold weather before and after; this is a prime region for Riesling. 

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Variety the Spice of Life; Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is always light to medium body and it can be fruity and/or herbaceous, it can be oak aged or not.  No matter where it is grown and what the wine maker may do to it; Sauvignon Blanc will always be DISTINCTIVE. This grape can be pretty wild in it's flavor expression and makes some of the most exciting and entertaining wines!

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Herbal  
• Grassy
• Grapefruit 
• Lemon / Lime
• Fig  
• Hay
• Vanilla  Oak / Butter

Sauvignon Blanc is native to France and most likely to the Loire Valley or Bordeaux.   The vine most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage "wild" and blanc "white."  The vine itself has a fairly wild personality, it grows with abandon if not trellised and pruned diligently. Classic Sauvignon Blanc is from Bordeaux, labeled as Bordeaux Blanc and Graves AOCs, customarily blended with Sémillon and Muscadelle to add friendly fruit flavors, and sometimes treated to oak aging. In the Loire Valley of France it makes wine that is flinty with pronounced mineral flavors. Sauvignon Blanc from California is bright, grassy and grapefruity. And, the best ones come from New Zealand where the long slow growing season helps the wine become vibrant, high acid, pungent and fruity wine.

Some Recommended Sauvignon Blanc...

• Sauvignon Blanc, CLOUDY BAY, Marlborough, New Zealand
• Sauvignon Blanc, VILLA MARIA, "PRIVATE BIN" Marlborough, New Zealand
• Sauvignon Blanc, BENZIGER, SUSTAINABLY GROWN Lake & Sonoma Counties, California

And please reply to this blog; what is your  favorite Sauvignon Blanc?

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Variety the Spice of Life; Riesling

With a wide array of styles and sweetness; Riesling is very popular and also often misunderstood.  While always lighter in body it can range from bone dry to dessert sweet.  All of the styles will be Mouthwatering and many can be surprisingly complex.

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Peaches
• Apricots
• Grapefruit
• Melons
• Minerals
• Honeyed
• Acidic

Before Chardonnay became in vogue Riesling was considered the greatest white wine in the world.  Riesslingen as the name of a grape first appeared in records in 1435 in the Rhine Valley, a wild vine domesticated during the Middle Ages.  Almost seven hundred years later some of the most incredible white wines you will ever taste are being made in he Rhine and Mosel Valleys of Germany.  Riesling grapes are successfully grown in Alsace France, northern Italy, Austria, Washington state, Canada and a few other locations with cool to cold weather during the growing season.

Some Recommended Riesling...

• Riesling, COLUMBIA CREST "Two Vines", Washington, 2010 

And please reply to this blog; 
what is your  favorite Riesling?

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Pinot Grigio, BOLLINI, Trentino, Italy

This delicious wine has an unfair advantage; 

the wine is crafted by winemakers in training at the nearby Istituto Agrario Provinciale di San Michele all'Adige, renowned for its oenological research.  These students are an eager and motivated workforce seeking to make the best wine possible.

DELICATE

Perfumed Bouquet
Fuji Apple

White Fruit

Flinty

Nutty

Bollini Pinot Grigio is produced from hand picked grapes grown in superbly exposed, meticulously cultivated hillside vineyards.
The cool, even climate of Trentino is particularly well-suited to the Pinot Grigio variety, lending it a characteristic personality and especially fragrant, perfumed bouquet.

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Variety the Spice of Life; Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is DELICATE; nearly clear or pale greenish if it has any color at all, the flavors are often refreshing, crisp, it is always light body, and most of it's expression will be subtle.  The best Pinot Grigios are nuanced and ethereal,  even soft focused.  A nice change to all the other grape varieties that have power and broad, vibrant expressions of their flavors.

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Orange Rind
• Lemon Zest
• Floral
• Minerals
• Implied Spices
• Crisp / 
• Clean

Another of the many offspring of the noble grape Pinot Noir, a native to northern France, it has traveled well and proven popular in: Switzerland, Hungary and even in Burgundy in the Middle Ages and it has further migrated to Italy and many other parts of the world in modern times. It has the "Pinot" temperament of liking long, cool growing seasons to develop it's full potential. The best regions for it are in Italy: Alto-Adige, and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia; also the  Alsace region in France, and in the U.S.; Oregon.

Some Recommended Pinot Grigio...

• Pinot Grigio, BOLLINI, Trentino, Italy

And please reply to this blog; 
what is your  favorite Pinot Grigio?

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Chardonnay, FERRARI-CARANO, Sonoma County, California, 2011

Ferrari-Carano owns over 1,400 acres of vineyards throughout some of the most prestigious wine grape growing appellations. Here they practice sustainable farming techniques, such as recycling organic matter for use as mulch in the vineyards, planting cover crops and other plant species to avoid soil erosion, add desirable nutrients back to the soil and to attract desirable insects, and integrating animals to naturally enhance biodiversity and nutrient recycling.

• SUPPLE
• Apple
• Orange Blossom
• Lemon
• Pear
• Marshmallow
• Graham Cracker

From Sonoma County superior lots of grapes from vineyards in Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and Carneros to make over 60 individual Chardonnay batches. They are whole-cluster pressed or gently destemmed, crushed, pressed, and then cold settled for two days in stainless steel tanks before moving to barrels for fermentation. Aged separately in French oak, the wines complete 85 percent malolactic fermentation and are sur lie aged and stirred every two weeks for ten months.  Classic California Chardonnay at its best!

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Chardonnay, FREI BROTHERS, "RESERVE" SUSTAINABLY GROWN Russian River Valley, California, 2011

Frei Brothers rich history stretches back to 1890, when Swiss immigrant Andrew Frei purchased the the land that is now Frei Ranch in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley.  Already a vineyard, Frei developed it and built a winery that produced 20,000 cases of wine annually in 1895. By 1903, Frei's sons, Walter and Louis, took over running the winery and they adopted the name Frei Brothers.  After Prohibition the Gallo family began buying grapes from Frei Ranch, eventually signing an agreement to purchase the estate's annual wine grape crop.  By the late 1970s Andrew Frei's descendents retired and the Gallo family purchased Frei Ranch, further developing the vineyard and the winery; carrying on the legacy and tradition.

• SUPPEL
• Green Apple
• Orange Zest
• Apple Pie
• Butter And Toast
• Nutty Flavors
• Silky Finish

The Russian River Valley swings from cool fog-cloaked mornings to sunny warm days and cool, refreshing evenings with breezes from the Pacific Ocean.  This unique macroclimate allows for the slow and even maturation of our fruit, developing distinct flavors in our wines which reflect this great Sonoma terroir.  These Chardonnay grapes were whole cluster pressed to prevent any bitterness and maximize the fresh fruit flavors. Then then wine went through malolactic fermentation, which resulted in a plush texture and deep, layered flavors that allow the glorious expression of the Russian River Valley.

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have you tried this Chardonnay?

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Variety the Spice of Life; Chardonnay

Chardonnay can range from medium to full body with expressive aromas, fruit forward flavors and complexity.  And, most importantly they have a SUPPLE mouthfeel that drives Chardonnay drinkers wild!  This grape is grown everywhere and the styles can be diverse with some being ordinary in their expression and others tasting absolutely sublime!!!

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Apple  
• Pineapple
• Pear  
• Lemon / Lime
• Vanilla  
• Oak / Butter

Chardonnay is the offspring of the noble grape Pinot Noir and a rather ignoble grape called Gouais Blanc.  The wines from Gouais Blanc were so bad the French government in acted laws requiring the vines to be pulled out of existing vineyards and forbidding them from ever being replanted.  Learning this genetic origins of Chardonnay helped me to understand the wines from this grape better.  This combined with the grape's ability to reflect the soil composition and vinification techniques used to make it; result in a quite beguiling and fascinating wine.

Some Recommended Chardonnay...

• CHARDONNAY,FREI BROTHERS, "RESERVE" SUSTAINABLY GROWN, RussianRiver Valley, California, 2011
• Chardonnay, FERRARI-CARANO, Sonoma County, California, 2011 

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what is your  favorite Chardonnay?

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Variety the Spice of Life; Four Whites

If you like variety; then wine tasting is for YOU!  There are literally thousands of different grape varieties.  I have been studying wine for over a decade and there are still many varieties I look forward to tasting for the first time!  Wine study is truly a life time pursuit.  While this is all true you can learn three lessons about white grape varieties and you will be savvy in about ninety percent of the white wine you will encounter...  

First; the most popular grape for white wine making is Chardonnay.  Some people think that all white wine is made from Chardonnay!?!  Many drink this one wine to the exclusion of any other white grape varieties. Not recommended!  However, if you will focus on this one grape variety and the wines made from it and you will have the majority of white wine covered.   Chardonnay makes wines that are SUPPLE and complex, it is as full bodied as white wines get.

Second; if a white wine drinker is looking for a different experience they can choose from many alternatives; Pinot Grigio is DELICATE and refreshing with a very light body, Sauvignon Blanc is DISTINCTIVE and frequently exotic in flavor and a medium body, and Riesling is MOUTHWATERING and flavorful ranging from light to medium body.  While there are many others the vast majority of wine being consumed in North America today is made from these four white varieties.

Third; To sound like a wine expert associate the "EXPERIENTIAL DESCRIPTORS" in all caps with each variety.  Use these like buzzwords for each varietal combined with their body and complexity and you will be talking like a wine expert in no time. These descriptors will take you beyond just saying that the wine is light bodies or sweet and it will start you on the road to talking about what the experience of drinking the wine is like.  And that is what every wine drinker is really after; an experience.  With a good basic understanding of these four white grapes you can are prepared for most of the white wines you will encounter.

  
More to come on these great wines...

And please reply to this blog; what is your  favorite wine?

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Shiraz, GREG NORMAN, Limestone Coast, South Australia, 2010

Greg Norman, is best known as a Pro Golfer, he was labeled the "The Great White Shark" by a newspaper reporter during the 1981 Masters Tournament, because of his aggressive and assertive personality. His professional and personal motto is “Attack Life!” Greg Norman is truly the ultimate adventurer. His business interests keep him busy, so do his passions; fishing, scuba diving and the pursuit of almost every outdoor activity, his keen interest in fine wines inspired him to create his own wine brand; Greg Norman Estates. A collection of wines that not only represent his personal taste in wine but also the lifestyle he leads.

• EXPRESSIVE 
• Plum 
• Cherry and Blueberry 
• Savory Spices 
• Vanilla Oak 
• Tobacco Leaf 

The fruit for this wine comes from the Limestone Coast region in the south-east corner South Australia. Dark, rich and full-bodied Shiraz fruit shows extra finesse, particularly when from vineyards grown on the rich red soils that overlay the region's hard limestone rock.

And please reply to this blog;have you tried this Shiraz?

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Pinot Noir, A TO Z, Oregon, 2011

In honor of my beloved San Antonio SPURS!!!  Gregg Popovich, coach of the San Antonio Spurs, is a partner in  A to Z Wineworks; Founded in 2002, it is Oregon's fastest growing winery. Their goal is simple: to produce and market Oregon's best wine values by concentrating on acquisition of fruit, blending of wines and marketing. 

• SOPHISTICATED
• Bing Cherries
• Red Currants
• Wild Flowers
• Succulent Texture

This wine is a blend of Pinot Noir grapes grown in sixty different vineyards across Oregon.  The winemaker has approximately one hundred different fermentation batches to work with in blending this single cuvée!  This wine defines what Oregon Pinot Noir is to most wine drinkers!


GO! SPURS! GO!!!
beat the HEAT!

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Variety the Spice of Life; Syrah / Shiraz

Sometimes you can find one that is light-bodied, while most range from medium to full body and some can be the most complex and full bodied red wine around.  But, no matter the body Syrah / Shiraz is always EXPRESSIVE and flavorful! Very often the aromas carry over in the flavors making this wine straight forward and enjoyable.

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Blackberry
• Raspberry
• Currant  
• Liquorice
• Leather  
• Spices / Pepper
• Oak  Raisin

Syrah / Shiraz is one type of grape with two equally popular names.  All romantic folklore aside the genetics research has proven that this grape is native to Southern France.  It is the result of two obscure French varieties crossing: Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.  It is most likely that this crossing was a random natural occurance.  While being grown in all locations of grerat wine making, the best examples of Syrah / Shiraz come from France's Rhône Valley, Australia and California.

Some Recommended Syrah / Shiraz...

• Shiraz, GREG NORMAN, Limestone Coast, South Australia, 2010

And please reply to this blog; 
what is your  favorite Syrah?

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Merlot, CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE, Sustainably Grown, Cold Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2009

Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington state’s Founding Winery, with some of the oldest and most acclaimed vineyards in the Columbia Valley.  “Cold Creek’s 30-plus-year-old vines deliver a big, bold Merlot.

• SUCCULENT  

• Blackberry

• Black Cherry   

• Bittersweet Chocolate

• Vanilla  

• Oak / Butter

Planted in the early 1970s, Cold Creek Vineyard is one of Washington’s oldest and most acclaimed vineyards.  Located east of Yakima; south of the Columbia River.  Cold Creek Vineyard enjoys one of the longest and warmest growing seasons in the Columbia Valley.  The low yielding old vines produce small clusters and small berries, resulting in intense varietal flavors and deep rich color.  

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have you tried this Merlot?

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Variety the Spice of Life; Merlot

Merlot is SUCCULENT, often jammy, with fruit flavors being dominate.  I am associating "EXPERIENTIAL DESCRIPTORS" in all caps with each variety, and Merlot is all about the experience.  It is less about the specific fruit flavor that is there and more about it being "JUICY" or "JAMMY."  Merlot is in the medium body territory and it can make it to full bodied and complex. 

Flavors Commonly Experienced :

• Blackberry  

• Currant

• Cherry  

• Plum

• Walnut  

• Mint

• Vanilla  

• Oak / Butter

Merlot's name comes from "merle" French for blackbird, because of the color of the fruit.  Research suggests Merlot may be a mutation of Cabernet Franc, though it also strongly resembles Carmenère. It is a relatively new grape and is believed to be native to Bordeaux, France and it is being successfully grown all over the world with the best examples coming from France, California and Washington.

Recommended Merlot...

• Merlot, CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE, Sustainably Grown, Cold Creek Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington
• Merlot, BENZIGER, SUSTAINABLY GROWN, Sonoma County, California
• Merlot, CELLAR NO. 8, California

And please reply to this blog; what is your  favorite Merlot?

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