Merlot Suggestions for those who can't afford
Alan C. Lee
favorite Merlots that have resided in the not so expensive $10-15 range.
Thanks in advance.
Alan
John Rosengren
Crest Merlot at $11.29/bottle. I say its a fruit bomb with way too much
oak, no middle taste, and an aftertaste that lasts for almost 5 seconds.
Its OK if you like oaky blackberries. Since my wife says oaky blackberries
taste good to her (You can't have enough oak in your wine, Sparky!), we
always have some on hand.
Alan C. Lee wrote in message ...
Forres
just for starters. All smooth and textural and very good values.
KTParente
Chilean Wine
H2O
RonJanDev
95 Charles Krug Napa
95 Mirassou Monterey
95 Ch. St. Jean
95 Ch. Souverain
I suggest you try some Red Zinfandels. There are plenty of great values in the
$10-15 range, such as:
95 BV Napa
95 Rabbit Ridge Sonoma
95 Beringer North Coast
95 Ch. Souverain Dry Creek
95 Ridge Paso Robles
Good Luck!
Ron
Susan R. O'Hara
site --http://www.winesnw.com/tastingnotes1.htm -- and found only one
reviewed Merlot in the price range you are seeking. (The tasting notes
contain retail prices.)
In the "Recommended" category I found:
Arbor Crest
1996 Merlot, Columbia Valley, WA $13.50
Nose of plum, cocoa, vanilla, and graham. Light-bodied flavors of berry are
tasty, balanced, and drinkable. Enjoy now with pasta in roasted tomato
sauce.
Dave A
>Alan C. Lee wrote in message ...
>>I would be grateful if anyone can offer some personal advice on their
>>favorite Merlots that have resided in the not so expensive $10-15 range.
>>Thanks in advance.
>>
>>Alan
May I suggest the Wild Horse Merlot Paso Robles, around $13.00? Very
impressive depth of fruit, commendable balance, some compexity, a hint
of sweetness up front from the soft tannins. Nice glass of wine!
Dave A
Franz Aubrey Metcalf
Ron, listing $10-15 Zinfandels he would recommend, got me thinking.
He suggested:
95 BV Napa
95 Rabbit Ridge Sonoma
95 Beringer North Coast
95 Ch. Souverain Dry Creek
95 Ridge Paso Robles
I bet these are indeed fine wines for the price, even though Zin
has been creeping up in relation to Merlot and Cab in California.
My question, first question, though, was this:
Why no 1996s? I know many are out.
Which led me to a larger question:
How was the 1996 vintage for California red wines, anyway?
Which led me to an even larger question:
Just how have any of the last four vintage been in California?
My vintage knowledge pretty well expires with 1994. (One exception
is the 1995 Chardonnays, several of which I have enjoyed.) I simply
have not been buying much newer wine and so haven't followed the
recent vintages. But if I'm going to be buying any more white wine
at all, and if our new cellar really gets built this Winter for long
term aging of reds, I'm going to have to learn.
So, I'd love to hear people's opinions on the last four vintages
(plainly guesses on the last two at least). I'd also be happy to
hear of online or offline sources for overviews.
Best,
Franz
fmet...@crl.com
--
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Franz Aubrey Metcalf fmet...@crl.delete-this.com
At last a University of Chicago Ph.D.
N.B.: Disguised address; please remove "delete-this."
Ken Papai
>I bet these are indeed fine wines for the price, even though Zin
>has been creeping up in relation to Merlot and Cab in California.
>My question, first question, though, was this:
> Why no 1996s? I know many are out.
>Which led me to a larger question:
> How was the 1996 vintage for California red wines, anyway?
>Which led me to an even larger question:
> Just how have any of the last four vintage been in California?
1994 was the vintage of the century perhaps for Pinot Noir.
1995 becames Zin's turn as one of the best Zin vintages ever.
I think reds for 1996 is still in the To Be Determined phase.
(my guess - '96 will be above average but unspectacular for Zin)
--
Ken Papai West Coast Cycling Team / Red Rocket Ale
Marin County, California Note: $500 Fine if you send me Junk Email
kpa...@rahul.net http://www.rahul.net/kpapai/westcoast
Matthew Mitchell
I'd try Prosperity Red, which is imported from Chile and bottled by
Babcock, IIRC. Pretty true to the varietal, last I had it. Pretty floral
aroma.
Franz Aubrey Metcalf
Hi all,
Matthew just wrote to suggest "Prosperity Red," so I just wanted to
make a correction. There used to be simply a Prosperity Red and a
Prosperity White. There are now going to be Prosperity varietals,
and the first of these is Prosperity Merlot. It is undoubtedly this
wine that Matthew is recommending. I have not tried it yet, but at
my neighborhood supermarket it is actually *under* the price range
suggested in this thread's subject line. I doubt anyone will complain
about that.
Incidently, I tried the Prosperity Red, the current lot, which is
Lot 13, and I found it a *huge* Rhone style powerhouse of a wine
for $4 a bottle, on sale! Unbelievable value! I bought three cases.
It's now $4.50 a bottle and still an astounding deal for those who
like this sort of thing. It has true varietal character, but I must
admit it is almost brutish. Of course, I like that sort of thing
in a red wine. Look for it.
Best,
Franz
(who has no affiliation with Prosperity Wines or Firestone Vineyards)
P Rena 29
Alan, generally speaking, Merlot is not one of the more expensive wines. I
have read several comments in magazines, newspapers and even on a software that
I have that say the same.
Currently, my favorite is Blackstone which my boss bought for me. He buys it
buy the case and it's about $11 bottle. I recently posted a question about
merlot myself, because I prefer mine more velvety and smooth, but I haven't had
that kind of texture since the first time someone ordered for me about 6 years
ago.
But try Blackstone for yourself, if you can find. He lives in Brooklyn, NY and
can only find it in one store there.
P. Rena - to reply to me by email please use PRE...@AOL.COM
Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.
- Thomas A. Edison
Monica
>I would be grateful if anyone can offer some personal advice on their
>favorite Merlots that have resided in the not so expensive $10-15 range.
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Alan
>
I find Jekel Merlot to be a nice one. Not sure of the price point,
however, so I apologize for that.
Monica
Paul Dobson
Monica wrote in message <364f993f...@news.mindspring.com>...