In any other part of the world this is called a Meritage (or Bordeaux blend), it uses all 5 of the grapes needed to make up said designation: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. But this is California, they live by a completely different set of rules there - although that does not excuse them for a corked wine. Yes corked, that wet newspaper, moldy basement smell wasn't 'in your face' at first, in fact it was hiding behind the door, but then it sprang right out, and after 5 minutes of smelling and thinking to myself, "I am almost sure this is corked", it turned out to be so. Dang, and I was really looking forward to this wine.
5 comments:
Just tried this wine last night. Sorry yours was corked, it was great! Fantastic value. Try and find one.
Actually in California (or US) it IS called Meritage- it was an American designation; if it is by AVA standards a bordeaux blend of traditional bordeaux grape ... so no where else in the world is it called Meritage except California (or US) so in any other part of the world it is called Bordeaux blend....
Meritage is a marketing word, made up in 1989 by 31 wine producers:
"Meritage is a wine term—a compound of the words merit and heritage—coined by a group of vintners to identify handcrafted wines blended from traditional aristocratic Bordeaux varietals."
Meritage (rhymes with heritage) is a proprietary term and is used when wine contain the Bordeaux red or white varietals. Winemakers must license the Meritage trademark from its owner, the California-based Meritage Alliance. The Meritage agreement stipulates the blends that can be labeled "Meritage", pay a fee per case (currently $1.00, capped at $500.00 per vintage), and also carries various labeling restrictions. A Meritage must contain at least two of the Bordeaux varietals and no more then 90% of one of them in the bottle.
Meritage (rhymes with heritage) is a proprietary term and is used when wine contain the Bordeaux red or white varietals. Winemakers must license the Meritage trademark from its owner, the California-based Meritage Alliance. The Meritage agreement stipulates the blends that can be labeled "Meritage", pay a fee per case (currently $1.00, capped at $500.00 per vintage), and also carries various labeling restrictions. A Meritage must contain at least two of the Bordeaux varietals and no more then 90% of one of them in the bottle.
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