2012 Milbrandt Vineyards Merlot, Traditions, Columbia Valley, Washington ($12.95)
I’m always looking for rich reds from the west coast that manage to preserve some European-style elegance. Bingo! Eastern Washington is a good place to hunt for reds like these; the desert-like terroir gets ‘em ripe, but the extremely cold nights keep the acid up. Merlot from the Columbia Valley is no surprise; the world started taking notice of this varietal in this place about 25 years ago. Now, this one is no world-beating, high-scoring gem…but it is a delicious, pretty rich, young Merlot that will add jump to your dinner party. Medium-dark purple in the glass. Big blackberry-fruit nose, with a trace of butter. Yummy flavors reminiscent of delicious jug wine…but really good jug wine! Add to the jug a slightly chewy structure, which makes the wine seem a little more “important.”
Wine4Food
Excellent wine for well-cooked roasts and stews.
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