Tag Archives: Merlot

Great Education

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It’s bold, medium soft, dry, and very smooth. There is a lot of complexity here. Supple and well balanced.


Some of the reviews think that this is still pretty young.  That may be the case, but I wasn’t about to stow it away in the dungeon for 10 years. I just may go back and grab one to put down.  I need to come back to this when I have a much more experienced palate to really understand and appreciate what’s going on with this wine.

We had it with dinner, but I suspect that it would be better appreciated if you are enjoying by itself with friends.

This is made predominantly from Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  Saint-Émilion wines tend to have a rich, mouth-drying tannic structure, but in this case we have small amounts of Carménère,  Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot balancing out the blend.

An under the radar Estate that should be snapped up before it gathers more attention and the price starts to rise.

Vieux Chateau des Combes 2015

$36.99

14.5% Alcohol

Named for the Trays

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Arele is the name of the local wooden trays, where the grapes are laid down and dried prior to being gently pressed.


A southern/south-west exposure for the 4th Generation hillside vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico area. The blend is Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Merlot grapes.

This is the first time that we’ve see Slavonian oak casks being used.

The color is intense, deep ruby red. The taste is full bodied, juicy, and spicy- leading to a long, refined finish.

Got a little lazy, used made up sausage mix into kefta.  Roasted Veggies.  I’m thinking about the deck – summer sausage and cheeses for the next bottle.

VENETO APPASSIMENTO – TOMMASI ARELE 2017

$23.49 regularly $25.99

13% Alcohol

UPC: 08004645317105

The Roasted Veggies did it

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Bergerac is a wine region and appellation in South West France, covering an area along the Dordogne River. The wines are close in style to those of Bordeaux, around 100km (60 miles) to the west. Wine has been made in this region since the Romans – and all thanks to the monasteries which established vineyards on the banks of the Dordogne.


This Grand Cuvee is a blend of the classics: Cabernet and Merlot –  It is a most savoury red that works its way around your mouth – full of flavour.  It has length and depth and structure and balance – all in check.  A little softer than most Bordeaux and probably won’t age as well – Not to worry, we’ll be drinking them as soon as we buy more.


We generally have a white with Roast Chicken, but with the mess of roasted veggies around it we decided to have a red blend. Glad we did, the wine beautifully accompanied the meal. 

BERGERAC – CHATEAU LA BESAGE GRANDE CUVEE 2017

$20.99 regularly $21.99

13.5% alcohol

UPC: 03700898210594

Bold Taste from Broad Horizons

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Very well structured. A lovely wake-up call when you take your first taste.  It’s medium bodied and the flavours continuethrough a lovely finish.

Boneless lamb shoulder roast. Slow baked for over 2 hours, along with roasted Veggies. The wine brought out the best in everything.

The Nk’Mip band has built a great Driver Enthusiasts Experience too.  Area 27. Designed by Jacques Villeneuve.Go for a ride  https://area27.ca/circuit/

Nk’mip Merlot

$21.99

14.5% Alcohol

UPC: 00836909000021

Twice Blessed

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Forethought in planting the vines in the early 90s has today produced a lovely series of Merlots.

 Peppery, black cherry tones and a hint of plum and blackberry.  B called it warming.  That’s probably because of the 18 months in French and American oak.


We had it  with pork chops cheese sauce on cauliflower and local baby potatoes.


This is one of the first BC wines we’ve had this year that we consider really good value for the money.  An excellent legacy to Harry McWatters.


This is REAL terroir.  The right location, the right soil, and the right grape planted that will drive the roots deep into the almost desert like soil.


Not once, but twice we have been blessed with out introduction to Black Sage. First by the Goddess of Wine for including it in our last mystery case – a 2018 offering. And then again by visiting friends who brought a 2017 version.


It was great to compare the two vintages.  The 2017 is slightly bolder and the finishwas a little longer.


Black Sage Vineyard – Merlot 2017


13.% Alcohol

UPC: 00063657031506

$23.99 regularly $26.99

Heading to the top

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MONTSANT – CELLER DE CAPCANES MAS DONIS NEGRE
Montsant, Spain
UPC:  08427154011935
13.5% alcohol
$17.99

Full and Robust combination of Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah.

The grapes come from old vines between 30 and 60 years old, planted on clay and granite soils located on terraces.


This could very easily become one of our favourite red blends yet, because it’s pleasing from beginning to end. Lovely bouquet and a strong finish. It will go with just about anything the cook prepares.

5 on the Plate 5 in the Glass

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Glen Carlou Grand Classique

14.5% Alcohol

$22.99

The components used in Grand Classique, a blend of 25% each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, with 13% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot, are all individually vinified to allow for the development of each one’s unique character. After assemblage the blend is barrel matured in 225L French barriques for 18 months. The mouthfeel is richly textured with a firm yet accessible tannin structure.


Glen Carlou Vineyards is less than 35 minutes’ drive from Cape Town in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa and covers a 145 ha property.  The vineyard is well known for it’s award winning whites.  (We’ll be going to to try to find some of these.)


You get a full palate that lingers through to a lovely finish.  Full Bodied and well balanced.  Deep rich red colour.  Initially it comes off as spicy and peppery and then settles down into almost an elegance.

We teamed it with a mixed charcuterie, potato salad and coleslaw.


It should have been Raki, instead of Sambuca, with the mixed fruit on frozen yogurt. [Hee Hee]

Treating Himself

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Guest Andy Brown:

I decided to treat myself today.  

A Sterling Silver Striploin steak with baked potato, grilled yam and peas, washed down with a delectable Inniskillin 2009 “Dark Horse Estate” Meritage.  

Don’t have an exact price on the wine but it was in my $40+ section of the wine cooler.  

Whatever, it was worth it.  An excellent complement to the steak.  It is composed of 50% Merlot, 30% Cab Sav and 20% Cab Franc.  The description says the careful crafting of the individual wines “has yielded a deep purple toned wine with ripe cherry and chocolate aromas, firm tannins, and rich flavours of vanilla-infused oak and plums.”  The components underwent extended fermentation in their skins, followed by barrel aging for 12 months in French and American oak.  

Being in the bottle for 11 years did not hurt I’m sure.  I made a special toast to Di who I’m sure instigated this purchase.  She was the real wine aficionado- I can’t think of any of her selections that I did not like.  

Photos: Andy Brown