Merlot, aaaaah...You've Been A Favorite Friend Of Mine For Years!How about a nice glass of merlot to go with your Brie cheese. This grape was one of the world's most popular Grapes until the movie "Sideways" came along and cast it a villain among grapes. Unfairly so I think.Merlot has been a favorite wine of mine for years. It's velvety touch with dark fruity flavors in my opinion make it a fine friend indeed in my book. If you're just starting out with red wines it is a nice wine to try. For a while there it was too popular, and grape growers tried to keep up with the demand by planting too many grape plants that were badly grown and not tended to properly. The focus was on bulk and not quality. Alas it gained a reputation of being made in the winery by adding sugar, acidity and oak. 
2007 Castle Rock Napa
It is a very important grape varietal in Washington State, the state a California, the long island district of New York, North Eastern Italy, Chile, the Bordeaux region of France from the right bank or eastern area, and from the okanagan here in BC.
Columbia Crest in Washington State puts out the largest selling merlot in the United States and the over $8.00 category. They do some truly lovely wines, try them out you won't be disappointed. After my first decent reds I had tried which were italian reds, (and I do prefer their bolder flavors now). Merlots from France were definately my comfort red wine. After some huge changes in life, getting used to moving back to Canada (that didn't take to long because I love it here) adjusting to being a single parent and living on my own with my daughter, I loved coming home to our little apartment where it was nice and quiet and just the two of us. I really enjoyed lighting a candle and sitting back and a relaxing was a nice glass of this wine after Alisha had gone to bed.Fast forward a dozen years, and still enjoy lighting some candles and enjoying a nice glass of red wine, but I like to mix it up a little now sometimes it's a Shiraz sometimes it's a chianti, or maybe even a blended wine such as a cab-shiraz. One of my favorite reds that I have just recently in the last couple years discovered is a meritage, which is a blend of many Grapes. Red rooster which is a BC wine from the okanagan is one of my favorite meritage's. We've since moved from are quite little apartment to a much bigger townhouse where I can now turn on the fireplace to enjoy my wine by...now if only I could find someone to enjoy it with, you know someone who will refill my glass when it's empty! LOL :-) If you're looking for a red wine to serve, a red at your Christmas party or wine and cheese gathering, look no further than a merlot. Whether it's from Washington State or Bordeaux, France you'll find it is smooth pleasant sipping red that everyone will enjoy. Cheers
New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.Copyright 2010-2012 gifts-for-wine-lovers.com
 |
Mission hill and Quail's Gate are two local wines from BC that are fantastic. Washington State puts out some high-quality merlots for very reasonable prices.
