Lynfred 2008 Merlot
(Spanish Scrambled Eggs recipe and pics coming sometime soon!)
While Cabernet Sauvignon may have all the glory, Merlot comes in a close second (but often first on a wine lover’s list).
The history of the Merlot grape begins in the Bordeaux region of France, which is known for blending its wines. In fact, a true Bordeaux wine is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. It is fabled that the Merlot grape is what gave the blackbird its name because the bird was known to always eat the Merlot grape first (which is properly known as Merlot Noir, henceforth, ‘blackbird’). Another possible reason for the name is that the color of the blackbird’s feathers is the same color of the grape!
The Merlot grape tends to be plum and blue in color, and ripens in early fall. Due to its thin skin, it offers less tannins to a wine; therefore, it does not have to age as long before it is luxurious enough to drink. In fact, most critics quote the wine as being a ‘real drinking wine’.
The Merlot vine may have originated in the Bordeaux region of France, but is grown in such countries as: South America, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Australia and America. For the most part, the varietal was often grown for blending, not as a single variety wine. In the 1980’s California began branching out and producing Merlot as a single variety wine for those looking for a smooth red. By 1990 the trend had picked up, and bottles of ‘Merlot’ are always seen on the shelves. After the movie Sideways Merlot had a little trouble competing against its glorified cousin Pinot Noir, but it’s time to put that aside and taste what you’ve been missing the past few years.
Lynfred winemaker, Andres Basso, chose the grapes for this Merlot from Jones’ Vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington. The wine was aged for 23 months in both French and American oak and was left unfiltered.
Aroma: Rich aromas of warm spices, cloves and leather with fruity currant aromas and chocolate!
Palate: This full-boded Merlot has spicy flavors of black pepper, fresh herbs, plums and even cocoa beans on the long finish.
Foods: An excellent pairing with lamb kabobs, pork tenderloin, grilled chicken and Brie & goat cheeses.
