| Red Wine "Blends" & "Meritage's" Tasting Report |
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Blends, Meritage's, Cuvee's, you name it, the wine
throughout the wine producing nations has one
proprietary blend they specialize in and call their
own. In some wine regions, a blend is required to
receive the regional name. Chianti, Chateauneuf du
Pape and Bordeaux's are great examples. In
California, in order for a wine to be given a varietal
name, such as "Cabernet Sauvignon", the wine
must contain at least 75% of that grape in the wine
blend. That would imply that even most varietal
wines that you buy off the retail shelves, like
Zinfandel's, Merlot's, etc... are really wine blends
anyway.
There is really only one grape varietal that comes to
mind that is rarely if ever blended with other grape
varieties and that is Pinot Noir. However, if you
wanted to get technical on me, you could say that
most Pinot Noir wines are a blend of Pinot Noir
grapes from various different vineyard sites.
There is certainly no set construction for a wine
blend, although some regions have inspired many
copy cats from around the world such as the famous
Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet
Franc and Merlot, among others. Or even Rhone
blends such as Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre. But
really and truly, the possibilities are endless!
With that in mind, our staff set out this month to
taste a variable mixed bag of blend wines to find out
what we thought about the masterful concoctions
born out of some winemaker's imagination. We
wound up tasting twelve different wines, something I
don't recommend to the average person. As a whole,
I believe we all were largely disappointed and under
whelmed as there were only a couple of wines in the
whole group that really impressed most of the
tasters. The rest, did nothing to stand out. The last
wine on this list, which was actually the first wine we
tasted in the evening, was corked and therefore it
was not assigned a score. The Bogle Phantom and
Folie a Deux actually tied for fourth and the
Clautierre and Marques de Caceres tied for seventh.
Other than that, the wines below are pretty much
listed in preferential order.
So without any further a deux, here they are:
throughout the wine producing nations has one
proprietary blend they specialize in and call their
own. In some wine regions, a blend is required to
receive the regional name. Chianti, Chateauneuf du
Pape and Bordeaux's are great examples. In
California, in order for a wine to be given a varietal
name, such as "Cabernet Sauvignon", the wine
must contain at least 75% of that grape in the wine
blend. That would imply that even most varietal
wines that you buy off the retail shelves, like
Zinfandel's, Merlot's, etc... are really wine blends
anyway.
There is really only one grape varietal that comes to
mind that is rarely if ever blended with other grape
varieties and that is Pinot Noir. However, if you
wanted to get technical on me, you could say that
most Pinot Noir wines are a blend of Pinot Noir
grapes from various different vineyard sites.
There is certainly no set construction for a wine
blend, although some regions have inspired many
copy cats from around the world such as the famous
Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet
Franc and Merlot, among others. Or even Rhone
blends such as Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre. But
really and truly, the possibilities are endless!
With that in mind, our staff set out this month to
taste a variable mixed bag of blend wines to find out
what we thought about the masterful concoctions
born out of some winemaker's imagination. We
wound up tasting twelve different wines, something I
don't recommend to the average person. As a whole,
I believe we all were largely disappointed and under
whelmed as there were only a couple of wines in the
whole group that really impressed most of the
tasters. The rest, did nothing to stand out. The last
wine on this list, which was actually the first wine we
tasted in the evening, was corked and therefore it
was not assigned a score. The Bogle Phantom and
Folie a Deux actually tied for fourth and the
Clautierre and Marques de Caceres tied for seventh.
Other than that, the wines below are pretty much
listed in preferential order.
So without any further a deux, here they are:
| Francis Ford Coppola 2003 Diamond Label Claret - Napa, Ca |
Impression: A nice rich garnet color with
blackberry, bramble and pepper on the
nose. It is layered with deep dark fruit,
lush tannins and a great velvety chocolate
finish.
This wine is an old favorite. Always
dependable. It came within a half point of
being the only "A" scoring wine of the
tasting.
blackberry, bramble and pepper on the
nose. It is layered with deep dark fruit,
lush tannins and a great velvety chocolate
finish.
This wine is an old favorite. Always
dependable. It came within a half point of
being the only "A" scoring wine of the
tasting.
| Between $13.00 and $15.00 |
| Score B+ |
| The Magnificent Wine Co. "House Wine" 2003 - Columbia Valley, Wa |
Impression: This crimson wine sported a
lovely wood aroma that tipped off the big
tannins on the palate with chunky
blackberry and dark chocolate and a nice
long finish.
Despite having one of the loudest labels I
believe that has ever graced a wine bottle,
this truly was a great wine, especially
considering the price. Once again, the
state of Washington delivers on value!
lovely wood aroma that tipped off the big
tannins on the palate with chunky
blackberry and dark chocolate and a nice
long finish.
Despite having one of the loudest labels I
believe that has ever graced a wine bottle,
this truly was a great wine, especially
considering the price. Once again, the
state of Washington delivers on value!
| Score B+ |
| Around $14.00 |
| Haymen Hill 2003 Meritage - Monterey County, Ca |
Impression: A crimson colored wine with
plenty of complex spices, toast and red
fruit to brag about on the nose. Very well
balanced on the palate with good spicy fruit
and a long peppery finish.
This wine is actually at its peak now and
should be consumed early. It was very
delicious and even though I had never
heard of it, it was very good. In fact, the
first three wines received "A" scores from
me personally.
plenty of complex spices, toast and red
fruit to brag about on the nose. Very well
balanced on the palate with good spicy fruit
and a long peppery finish.
This wine is actually at its peak now and
should be consumed early. It was very
delicious and even though I had never
heard of it, it was very good. In fact, the
first three wines received "A" scores from
me personally.
| From $12.00 |
| Score B+ |
| Bogle 2003 Phantom - Central Coast, Ca |
Impression: Deep purple, almost black.
Rich in complex spices like cloves and
licorice on the nose. It is followed up with
raspberry fruit and vanilla on the finish.
Always a crowd pleaser! This is another
ole' favorite of mine. If you are a big fan
of this, try Bogle's Old Vine Zin, it too is
really good and only $11.00.
Rich in complex spices like cloves and
licorice on the nose. It is followed up with
raspberry fruit and vanilla on the finish.
Always a crowd pleaser! This is another
ole' favorite of mine. If you are a big fan
of this, try Bogle's Old Vine Zin, it too is
really good and only $11.00.
| Around $18.00 |
| Score B |
| Folie a Deux 2004 Menage a Trois - St. Helena, Ca |
Impression: A violet colored wine with a
nose full of blackberry and vanilla
undertones. There's a lot more going on
in the mouth, with a little cedar, bright
cherry and chocolate. It also has a nice
complex finish to boot!
Very good. Some people liked this wine
the best. It was up there for me too. I
think more than anything, I am just
stunned to find a blend wine from Napa
for around $10.00.
nose full of blackberry and vanilla
undertones. There's a lot more going on
in the mouth, with a little cedar, bright
cherry and chocolate. It also has a nice
complex finish to boot!
Very good. Some people liked this wine
the best. It was up there for me too. I
think more than anything, I am just
stunned to find a blend wine from Napa
for around $10.00.
| Between $10.00 and $12.00 |
| Score B |
| Marrieta Old Vine Red Lot 38 - Geyserville, Ca |
Impression: A lighter cranberry color
with aromas of earth and dirt. Bright red
fruits and bramberry on the palate, but
the finish moves on quickly.
Not their best wine. I like their Zinfandel
much better and would recommend it any
day over this wine.
with aromas of earth and dirt. Bright red
fruits and bramberry on the palate, but
the finish moves on quickly.
Not their best wine. I like their Zinfandel
much better and would recommend it any
day over this wine.
| From $10.00 |
| Score B- |
| Llano 2003 Signature Red - Texas |
Impression: A brick colored wine filled
with vanilla and a little Texas dust on the
nose. The tannins were more mellow
with light red fruits in the mouth, giving
the appearance that this had a little more
age to it than other wines.
I love it! Many staff members were so
sure they were going to pick this one out
and give it a lack luster score, but they
were wrong! A much better wine than
the group that follows! Way to go Texas!
with vanilla and a little Texas dust on the
nose. The tannins were more mellow
with light red fruits in the mouth, giving
the appearance that this had a little more
age to it than other wines.
I love it! Many staff members were so
sure they were going to pick this one out
and give it a lack luster score, but they
were wrong! A much better wine than
the group that follows! Way to go Texas!
| Around $11.00 |
| Score B- |
| Clautierre Vineyards 2003 Estate Mon Beau Rouge - Paso Robles, Ca |
Impression: Very light rose colored
with an overwhelming nose of plums. It
was very sweet with strawberries and
too different from the others to have a
fighting chance.
I was bummed about this wine because
every other wine that I have had from
Clautierre has been the Cat's Meow!
This one sadly, did not live up to my
expectations.
with an overwhelming nose of plums. It
was very sweet with strawberries and
too different from the others to have a
fighting chance.
I was bummed about this wine because
every other wine that I have had from
Clautierre has been the Cat's Meow!
This one sadly, did not live up to my
expectations.
| Score B- |
| Between $26.00 and $30.00 |
| Marques de Caceres 2001 Crianza - Rioja, Spain |
Impression: An older brick red with
chocolate on the nose. The fruits were
more muted implying age and it was
overall a bit thinner than most other
wines.
There was no mistaking that this was
the Spanish wine in the bunch. This is
always a good bet for an inexpensive
Spanish Rioja.
chocolate on the nose. The fruits were
more muted implying age and it was
overall a bit thinner than most other
wines.
There was no mistaking that this was
the Spanish wine in the bunch. This is
always a good bet for an inexpensive
Spanish Rioja.
| From $12.00 |
| Score B- |
| Veramonte 2003 Primus - Casablanca Valley, Chile |
Impression: Once again, another brick
red wine with musty wood aromas. It
tasted thin and a little tired to me, with
fading red fruits.
I'm still waiting to be impressed by
Veramonte. I don't think I've ever had
a wine of theirs that has blown me
away. For the money, look at Concha y
Toro or Casa Lapastolle. They are
more consistent.
red wine with musty wood aromas. It
tasted thin and a little tired to me, with
fading red fruits.
I'm still waiting to be impressed by
Veramonte. I don't think I've ever had
a wine of theirs that has blown me
away. For the money, look at Concha y
Toro or Casa Lapastolle. They are
more consistent.
| Between $16.00 and $18.00 |
| Score B- |
| Bargetto Family Estates 1998 La Vita - Santa Cruz, Ca |
Impression: This being the oldest wine
of the tasting showed it with its light
brick red color. There is some
evidence of red fruits on the nose and
the tannins are in check with a peppery
backbone, but the finish is short and
weak.
The most expensive wine of the
evening failed to live up to its price tag.
Great label though. Maybe that is
what you are paying all that money for,
Ian!
of the tasting showed it with its light
brick red color. There is some
evidence of red fruits on the nose and
the tannins are in check with a peppery
backbone, but the finish is short and
weak.
The most expensive wine of the
evening failed to live up to its price tag.
Great label though. Maybe that is
what you are paying all that money for,
Ian!
| About $42.00 |
| Score C+ |
| Ridge 2002 Geyserville, CA |
Impression: Corked! Everything
about it pointed to signs of a tired old
wine.
What a bummer! I should have really
liked to have tasted this. A good
vintage from easily the most
prestigious California Winery in our
tasting.
about it pointed to signs of a tired old
wine.
What a bummer! I should have really
liked to have tasted this. A good
vintage from easily the most
prestigious California Winery in our
tasting.
| Between $35.00 and $37.00 |
| Not Rated |
