Quick Review: Brooklyn Oenology "Social Club Red" 2006

US, NY, Brooklyn Oenology "Social Club Red" 2006
+ // Fruity // Petrol, leather // Dark cherry, tobacco // Medium

A Bordeaux style blend.

Quick Review: Chateau Blouin

France, Bordeaux, Chateau Blouin
++ // Fruity // Blackberry, Apple, Currants, Oak, Tobacco // Berry, Apple, Chocolate, Oak, Cherry // Full
Opened up from med fruity to full, with tart fruit.

Quick Review: Wines at The Forge

We couldn't go wrong - the wines were exceptional at The Forge.

US, CA, Napa Valley, Sterling "Three Palms" Merlot 2008

++ // Fruity // Bright ripe fruit

Fr, Bordeaux, Chateau-Bel Air, St Emillon

++ // Earthy // Tart Fruit, Earth,

US, CA, Ravenswood Zinfandel "Teldeschi" 2008

++ // Fruity // Cherry, Berry, Pepper // Medium-Full

Quick Review: Wine at Hill Cafe

US, WA, Washington Heights Merlot
+ // Spicy // Earth, Grass, Nutmeg, Berry // Pepper, Blackberry // Medium

Added a spice to the Beef Bourguignon

Bordeaux
++ // Fruity // Cherry // Kiwi, Starfruit // Full

Did You Know?... About Merlot

Merlot is a red grape, second only in global production to Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a fairly hardy grape, and is grown throughout the wine world, but is possibly most famous for its use in Bordeaux blends. Given its wide range of growing locations, it defies any specific flavor profile, but often results in a "smooth" wine. The wide range of flavors means a wine range of possible pairings, but the stronger New World styles can stand up to hearty meat dishes, while the lighter French style pairs well with lighter proteins.

Quick Review: Glorie Farm Winery Synergy

US, NY, Hudson Valley, Glorie Farm Winery, "Synergy," 2010

+ // Earthy, Smooth // Plum, Chocolate // Plum, Chocolate, Berries // Full

A Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, this was a smooth red with no real bite of tannins, perfect for sipping on a summer evening.

Did you know? . . . Blended Wines

Americans like their wines label by the varietal. If we don’t know the grape as soon as we look at the name, we consider it a cheap drink. But French wines embrace the blending of grapes, as a way to control style. This is epitomized by Champagne, a wine that is always a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Petit Meunier. This is done so that the Champagne house can guarantee identical flavor from year to year, despite seasonal variations in the individual varietals. For other wines, its a way to augment the grapes, allowing a winemaker to avoid a “donut wine”--a wine with obvious holes in the flavor and body of the wine. Consider this time Bordeaux wine--wine made from a blend of grapes produced in the Bordeaux region in France. A blend lets a winemaker select the best elements from a range of grapes, and play to the strength of each, creating a better overall wine.  Like Champagne, this will allow for a more consistent wine from year to year, and gives you a better idea of what the wine will be like, even if you don’t know the particulars of the vintage year.