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Red Blend, Legend, Sonoma Valley, 2005

Red Blend, Legend, Sonoma Valley, 2005 Wine Details
Price: $40.00 per bottle

Description: Legend is a unique blend of Merlot and Zinfandel that we have been making since 1999. Our 2005 Legend is an exceptional vintage as we let it age in the barrel for an additional 7 months. With soft aromatics of raspberry, cranberry & vanilla, initially your reaction is to swirl and smell the wine all day long, but when tasting it you realize the ecstasy involved & can no longer hold back. Nicely structured with bright acidity, velvety textures, and layers of peppercorn, tobacco & cocoa, this wine will age easily for 7 - 10 years.

Varietal Definition
Meritage:
In 1988, a group of American vintners formed ‘The Meritage Association’ to identify handcrafted wines blended from the traditional "noble" Bordeaux varietals. Most American wines are labeled after the grape variety that comprises at least 75% of that wine. A label with "Cabernet Sauvignon" indicates that the wine is comprised of 75% or more of the grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon. Many winemakers, however, believed the varietal requirement did not necessarily result in the highest quality wine from their vineyards. "Meritage" was coined to identify wines that represent the highest form of the winemaker's art, blending, and to distinguish these wines from the more generic moniker "red table wine." "Meritage," pronounced like "heritage," was selected from more than 6,000 entries in an international contest to name the new wine category. “Meritage” is an invented word that combines "merit" and "heritage" --reflecting the spirit of members of ‘The Meritage Association’. A red “Meritage” is made from a blend of two or more of the following varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, St. Macaire, Gros Verdot, and Carmenere. A white “Meritage” is made from a blend of two or more of the following varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Sauvignon Vert. No single variety may make up more than 90 percent of the blend.
Zinfandel:
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in the 'heel' of Italy. It is typically made into a robust red wine. Its taste depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruits like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler areas such as the Napa Valley, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are more common in wines made in warmer areas such as Sonoma County. Many Zinfandels come from head pruned ‘Old Vines’. ‘Old Vine’ is generally understood to mean a vine that is more than 50 years old and that produces less than three tons per acre. ‘Head Pruning’ is an old European style of pruning that trains the vine into the shape of a goblet. It requires no wires or other complex trellis systems. Head pruning spreads the fruit uniformly along the vine and allows light penetration.In the USA a semi-sweet Rosé (blush-style) wine called ‘White Zinfandel’ has achieved widespread popularity. In fact, this popularity has so outstripped all other forms that many fans think there is actually a grape called “White Zinfandel” (there isn’t)!
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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