Wine Review: Joseph Phelps 2009 Insignia

My “End of the World” Wine Pick

Listening to lighthearted chatter this week about the Mayan-predicted end of the world, slated for Friday, I got to thinking about the wine I’d most like to consume before that happens. Like many curious enthusiasts, and with budget and accessibility barriers wine reviewbrushed aside, my first choice would be one of the $750-per-bottle cult wines, like a Screaming Eagle or a Harlan. (Can you really blame me for going there?) Among other things, consuming one of these beauties is on my wine bucket list so that I can walk away knowing what they truly taste like.

But, since opening one of those tonight really isn’t possible, I narrowed down to the wines I have available at my fingertips. Scouring my supply, I immediately set aside the Joseph Phelps 2009 Insignia while finalizing my search to confirm that wine would truly be “the one.” For a couple of reasons, I solidified this as my hypothetical end-of-the-world choice.

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Wine Reviews: Magnificent Napa Merlot

Wines That Will Inspire You to Give Merlot a Second Chance

Some days, Merlot is my favorite of the five Bordeaux grape varietals. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear, “this wine will really appeal to Cab-lovers” when tasting some of the great full-bodied Merlots out there. Several of the bottles I’ve tried certainly live up to that sentiment. I’m sure many of you know the hit Merlot took after the movie “Sideways” was released in 2004. After eight years, it’s time to look ahead and revisit the beauty this grape has to offer. Following are reviews of Merlots I’ve recently sampled across a wide price range* for you to consider.

Merlot Reviews
  • Pahlmeyer 2009 Merlot ($75) – This is one of the crème-de-la-crèmes of Napa Valley and a wonderful special-occasion wine, rated 94 points by Wine Spectator. The 2009 is comprised of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet. The nose on this one was amazing, with notes of oak, violet, cranberry and mocha. Flavors included cherry and allspice. It displayed soft tannins and a nice, lengthy finish. Rating: 4.50 Continue reading Wine Reviews: Magnificent Napa Merlot