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Wine Details
Price:
$23.99 per bottle
Description:
The 2003 “Meritage” follows the very popular 2002 vintage with a very similar style but greater depth and character. This wine takes its core character from Cabernet Franc from the Bacchus vineyard and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards. The Merlot, a blend from the Rosa Hills and Chandler Reach vineyards, softens the wine. The wine is bright with fresh fruit, showing off current and berry notes, but well married with well balanced oak. Tannins and acidity are well balanced.
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Varietal Definition
Bacchus:
Named after the Roman god of wine, Bacchus is found in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia, in the United Kingdom, and most widely in its native Germany, where it flourishes in the heart of German bulk wine production and beer country. Two-thirds of its German production is in the Rheinhessen and much of the rest is in the Franconia district, famous for its Bavarian wheat beers. Created by crossing a Müller-Thurgau with a Silvaner-Riesling cross, this white wine-producing varietal adapts to a broad range of climates. Bacchus benefits from its ability to grow in less favorable vineyard sites than Riesling and even Müller-Thurgau. It produces full-bodied wines, with attractive fruit and floral characteristics, similar to Muscat. As an early budder, this varietal is susceptible to spring frosts, and its lack of acidity can prove challenging. In cool years, its inability to ripen fully and to express its Muscat-like character does not allow vignerons to effectively use the grape to moderate the aci
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Cabernet Franc:
Cabernet Franc is an accessible, spicy, herbal, dark blue grape variety that is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Sometimes the French refer to Cabernets, which could mean either of the two grapes. Its typical aromas include an herbaceous and pronounced peppery nose, even in ripe fruit, and something eerily like tobacco. The Cabernet Franc ripens at an earlier stage, which gives it reason to exist in the Bordeaux area. In the Loire, where we find it a lot, it gives a clear red fresh and fruity wine.
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Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.
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Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted and significant among the five dominant varieties in France’s Bordeaux region, as well as the most successful red wine produced in California. Though it was thought to be an ancient variety, recent genetic studies at U.C. Davis have determined that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the hybrid offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon berries are small with black, thick and very tough skin. This toughness makes the grapes fairly resistant to disease and spoilage and able to withstand some autumn rains with little or no damage. It is a mid to late season ripener. These growth characteristics, along with its flavor appeal have made Cabernet Sauvignon one of the most popular red wine varieties worldwide.
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