Magnificent Misunderstood Merlot
Saturday, February 11th
4:30 - 7:00
Poor Merlot has had a tough go of it for the last decade. After the movie Sideways lambasted the majority of California Merlot, sales for this grape across the board plummeted. This was a very unfair situation for many global producers of Merlot, who had been making wonderful examples of this noble grape for generations. As far as California Merlot goes, there was some good reason for the bad-mouthing. Merlot had become so popular through the 80's and 90's that many people with even a scrap of land in California were planting and producing Merlot, with no consideration to whether their land was a microclimate appropriate for Merlot or not. In every major wine growing region, there has been a slow process of discovering exactly which wine grape is best suited for the soil, climate and aspect of the land. Many California Merlot plantings were dictated by business practices rather than agricultural wisdom, and there truly was a LOT of bad Merlot being bottled in the west for a number of years. So in the intervening years, something cool has happened - a lot of those faulty plantings of Merlot have been pulled up and discarded, and the Merlots currently coming out of California seem to be getting better and better. Much of this due to the fact that those still producing California Merlot are often doing it now for the right reason - because they are convinced that it is exactly the right grape for their land, and they are dedicated enough to this idea that they will continue to produce Merlot even against the current stigma and disdain it receives. We invite you this Saturday for a tour of some great Merlot. We'll taste a classic example of properly grown California Merlot; a great Washington State Merlot that may prove the far Northwest to be the ultimate American region for the grape; two value driven Merlots from South Africa and Northern Italy that provide huge flavor for low prices; and we'll also do a Tuscan blend based on Merlot that shows the grapes excellent adaptability. Leave your preconceptions at the door and come taste some delicious wine!
Venica Merlot
Collio DOC, Italy, 2015
Indaba Merlot
Western Cape, South Africa, 2015
Textbook Merlot
Napa Valley, California, 2014
Barnard Griffin Merlot
Columbia Valley, Washington, 2014
Aia Vecchia 'Lagone'
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Tuscany, Italy, 2014
Venica Merlot
Collio DOC, Italy, 2015
Indaba Merlot
Western Cape, South Africa, 2015
Textbook Merlot
Napa Valley, California, 2014
Barnard Griffin Merlot
Columbia Valley, Washington, 2014
Aia Vecchia 'Lagone'
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Tuscany, Italy, 2014
California Love
Monday, February 13th
5:30 - 7:00
We've got a special treat lined up to help you get ready for the perfect Valentine's Day. The evening before please join us for a tasting that will be full of love. We'll be joined by the one, the only, "Dr. L.O.V." Laurence O. Vuelta for a fantastic tasting of some California gems. We'll taste a selection of wines from Artesa winery, focusing on Sonoma County and Carneros. Mark you calendar now, and plan on coming by to start the LOVefest a night early this year!
Artesa Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, 2013
Artesa Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, 2013
Elements Zinfandel
Sonoma County, California, 2012
Elements Red Blend
Sonoma County, California, 2012
Elements Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California, 2012
Artesa Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, 2013
Artesa Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
Carneros, Napa Valley, California, 2013
Elements Zinfandel
Sonoma County, California, 2012
Elements Red Blend
Sonoma County, California, 2012
Elements Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California, 2012