Claret, BECKER, Texas High Plains, Texas

"LES TROIS DAMES" has graced this label for years in honor of the matriarchs of grape growing in the Texas High Plains; Eunice Hunter, Laverne Newsom and Dorothy Cooper. This great trio of ladies have a state full of grateful Texas wine drinkers and wine makers indebted to them. It is them and their families who lead the states grape growing. Recognition of them from Becker Vineyards, one of our states most successful wineries, is a right and good thing.

• SUCCULENT and POWERFUL 
• Red and Black Berries 
• Raspberries 
• Chocolate 
• Spices 
• Vanilla 
• Oak 

CLARET blends should only contain varieties that are authorized for use in the red wines of the Bordeaux region of France. Currently, the varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Carmenere is another permitted grape, but rarely used except in red wines from South American. The term Claret has no regulated meaning or legal status so it is best to investigate how each winery is using the term. In the United States, red wines labeled as ‘Meritage’ (www.meritagewine.org) can be included in the category of Clarets and the term ‘Meritage’ is regulated with a legal meaning.

For more on the Becker Claret visit; http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?s=Becker+Claret&searchsubmit=

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Meritage, ESTANCIA, Paso Robles, California

In 1999, Estancia planted nearly 700 acres of vineyards in the acclaimed appellation of Paso Robles. The infertile soils and rugged terrain of Estancia’s Keyes Canyon Vineyard, encourage the vines to yield small fruit clusters with tiny berries packed full of rich berry tones. This unique appellation is home to more extreme temperature swings than any other wine-growing region in California. During the day, the vines bask in the warm sunshine and at night they are soothed by a cool marine layer from the Pacific Ocean.

• POWERFUL AND SOPHISTICATED
• Complex
• Dark Black Cherries
• Anise
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Chocolate Powder
• Soft Oak
• Luscious

Varietal Composition 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot.  Oak Aging 14 months.

Pronounced; MEHR-ih-tihj. The name Meritage (a compound of the words merit and heritage) was chosen from over 6,000 entries in an international contest held by a group of vintners who sought to establish standards of identification for a category of American blended wines made with traditional Bordeaux grape varieties.  Instituted in 1989, the term Meritage is a certification mark registered with the U.S. Department of Trademarks and Patents. To be designated as Meritage, a wine must meet the following standards: 1. It must be a blend of two or more Bordeaux grape varieties- 2. It must be the winery's best wine of its type; 3. It must be produced and bottled by a U.S. Winery from grapes that carry a U.S. appellation; and 4. Its production is limited to a maximum 25,000 cases per vintage.

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Tour de France: Cabernet Blend, Haut-Médoc, Château Aney, Bordeaux, France, 2009

This left-bank Château Aney is situated strategically between St-Julien and Margaux, at the epicenter of the great wines of the region where the terroir imparts exceptional quality and provides ideal growing conditions. The warm summer sun is tempered by the cool breezes of the Garonne, and round, polished, gravelly, river stones cover the vineyard.  The final blend of the wine matches the proportions in which they are planted throughout the seventy-four acres of vineyards: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. This traditional Haut Médoc is more like what you might remember of the classic Bordeaux styles of the 1960s and 1970s. This wine is NOT at all cloaked in new wood or over-extracted tannins, Château Aney’s wines have finesse and balance!

• SUCCULENT
• Black Cherry
• Plum
• Blackberry
• Dusty Black pepper
• Tobacco Leaf
• Subtle Earthy Finish

Château Aney was built in 1850 by the family that gave it its name, just five years before the wine classification system was initiated in Bordeaux, where the domaine earned "Cru Bourgeois" status.  By the mid-twentieth century the land was no longer being farmed and the Château had fallen into disrepair. Then in 1972 Jean Raimond and his son, Pierre, bought the property, rehabilitated the vineyards, and refurbished the winery and cellars bringing it back, more glorious than ever. This new era for Château Aney also achieved "Cru Bourgeois" status in 1978. Which we can read this as showing just how accurate this classification system is, or does it illustrate just how resistant to change the French wine community can be.  You should taste the wine and decide...

Tour de France: Merlot/Cab. Sauvignon, CHASSE, Bordeaux, France, 2008

This “Grand Vin de Bordeaux” appeals to your sheer pleasure, taking its inspiration from the great French romanticists, it is an open invitation to sharing a little sensual poetry from the bottle.  Softness and roundness, creating nuances and shading that are the hallmark of exceptional personality of this wine.  With 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc it has very genial flavors while remaining true to the regional character of Bordeaux wine.

• SUCCULENT
• Red Cherry
• Raspberry
• Blackberry
• Flinty
• Smoky Wood

The new face of Bordeaux Wines, Marquis de Chasse, with a personality all its own, (read “brand” all its own.)  Created in 1992 by the Bordeaux based wine giant Ginestet, utilizing their extensive resources; over 3,700 acres of vineyards, teams of agronomists and wine-makers and capable and resourceful international sales and marketing teams.  Not a small feat to exalt taste creating an appealing wine that consumers will always return to with pleasure, vintage after vintage.

Tour de France: Merlot / Cabernet Blend, Graves, CHÂTEAU CABANNIEUX, Bordeaux, France, 2009

Chateau Cabannieux is a very old family property. Mentioned in 1874 as “Première catégorie” winery and in 1881 classified as “Cru Exceptionnel” establishing a record of continuous improvement.  With almost 50 acres of vineyards, surrounding the Château, Hugo Dudignac, is producing red and white AOC Graves wines with distinction.

• POWERFUL
• Earthy
• Black Cherry
• Vanilla
• Old Wood
• Chocolate
• Structure

The Chateau Cabannieux is on the top of a little hill, all the surrounding vineyard is planted on its slops. It gives the vineyard an ideal sun exposure as well as great natural water drainage.  The soil is mainly graveled with a subsoil made of gravel, from which comes the name of “Graves.”  With vines of: 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, not the traditional Cab dominate Graves.  However the winemaking is very traditional in cement vats for 4 to 6 months , and then in barrels of 18 to 24 months.  After bottling, the wines spend a year in the cellar before being sold.  It is delicious tonight, but if we had the patients to wait ten years or more it will become a wonderful wine.

Merlot, BONTERRA, ORGANICALLY GROWN GRAPES, Mendocino County, California

Bonterra passionately believes that organic grapes make better wine. Since 1993, Bonterra has been producing wine from 100% organically grown grapes using certified organic practices such as composting, cover crops and biodiversity.  These practices produce grapes that offer a quality of fruit and vibrancy of taste that express the purity and intensity of each varietal’s unique character.

• SUCCULENT
• Black Plums
• Dark Cherries
• Cranberries
• Toasty Oak
• Vanilla Spice

Aged for 12 months with French and American oak with medium to medium plus toast, with 30% new oak.  Merlot is one of Bonterra’s most distinctive expressions, Biodynamicly farmed at the McNab Ranch with a strong representation from Mendocino vineyards; Los Cerros and others. McNab has loamy, well-drained soils and an average elevation of 800 feet, which allows most of the blocks to experience temperature swings of 50 degrees. This ranch provides fruit that proves that organic farming makes better wines.

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Merlot, CELLAR NO. 8, California

Cellar No. 8 is a real place where real wine is made for real people – people who appreciate quality, and recognize a tremendous value when they see one. A midst the snobbery, gimmicks and mediocrity of the wine aisle, Cellar No. 8 stands out as a modern brand with authentic roots.

• SUCCULENT
• Ripe Red Berry Fruit
• Bing Cherry
• Dried Herbs
• Cola
• Cloves
• Toasty Oak

Cellar No. 8 wines are crafted at the historic Asti Winery in Sonoma County (AKA; Italian-Swiss Colony Winery.) Applying time-honored methods and expertise, founder Andrea Sbarboro and a group of Italian immigrants formed an entire community around the art of wine making in 1881. 

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Merlot, BENZIGER, SUSTAINABLY GROWN, Sonoma County, California

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.  Their wines are defined by the individuality of the vineyard and the passion of the people who make them. Through this commitment to natural farming and environmentally and socially responsible business practices, they strive for sustainability and the preservation of their Sonoma Mountain family winery for generations to come.

• SUCCULENT
• Currant
• Black Raspberry
• Ripe Plum
• Anise
• Full-Flavor
• Velvety Texture

Handpicked fruit for this Merlot came from mountain, hillside, benchland and valley floor vineyard sites from Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley to the Carneros regions. Careful site selection ensures that only the best-suited and finest quality fruit are captured in every bottle of Benziger Sonoma County Merlot.

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.  

And please reply to this blog; 
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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