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2003 Z3, Zweigelt, Merlot, Pinot Noir

2003 Z3, (Zweigelt, Merlot, Pinot Noir) Wine Details
Price: $14.90 per bottle

Description: Dr. Zweiglet did very well when he experimented with a St. Laurent and a Lamberger to create a red wine which grows well in colder climats. He never intended for this varietal to be planted in Canada and start a new revolution of outstanding blend wines here at our winery. This our 2nd release of our awardwinning Z3 is just as amazing as our first one was. The extra age of the Zweigelt vines makes this release an even more exiting one then our fist 2002 Z3. Again as all Zweigelt wines, this wine is drinking very well now, and it should cellar well until at least 2014.

Varietal Definition
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.
Pinot Noir:
The name is derived from the French words for ‘pine’ and ‘black’ alluding to the varietals' tightly clustered dark purple pine cone shaped bunches of fruit. Pinot Noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine. By volume most Pinot Noir in America is grown in California with Oregon coming in second. Other regions are Washington State and New York.During 2004 and the beginning of 2005, Pinot Noir became considerably more popular amongst consumers in the United States, possibly because of the movie Sideways. Being lighter in style, it has benefited from a trend toward more restrained, less alcoholic wines. It is the delicate, subtle, complex and elegant nature of this wine that encourages growers and winemakers to cultivate this difficult grape. Robert Parker has described Pinot Noir: "When it's great, Pinot Noir produces the most complex, hedonistic, and remarkably thrilling red wine in the world."
Zweigelt:
Zweigelt is a red wine grape variety developed in 1922, at the Federal Institute for Viticulture and Pomology at Klosterneuburg, by Fritz Zweigelt. It was a crossing of Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. It is now the most widely -grown red grape variety in Austria, as well as having some presence in Canada's vineyards.


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