Tag: Markham

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

Preparing Your Thanksgiving Day Pours

Holiday and Gift Wine Ideas

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season upon us, it’s time to start thinking about wines to accompany festive meals or give as gifts. I’ve pulled some of the selections from my recent #GiftWinePick posts on Twitter, which include a range of delicious, crowd-pleasing options you can find in most areas. I’ll plan to share more of these ideas throughout the next few weeks.

While you may not be able to locate these specific vintages at your local store, these wineries deliver fairly consistent, high-quality wines each year. Hopefully, you will be just as pleased with their other options. Prices are approximate and based on the listing prices I found in Chicago-area shops.

Wine Reviews