Fairfield County Wine Tasting Appreciation Society Merlot Dinner

Yes, the name is a bit of a joke. Some friends of mine (6 of them) started coming to BONDA three years ago once a month for Open That Bottle Night.

They would choose a wine theme, Shiraz, California, 2003 Pinot, etc.... and each contribute a bottle and judge who brought the best. Jamie and I would dip in here and there, trying some of the wines and adding our two cents.

The natural evolution turned to pairing 2 people together to bring in better wines, which begat buying wines at auction for the group. I have been participating off an on for the last 18 months, and was lucky enough to make it to last night's Merlot tasting.

The first wine was a 750 ml of 2003 Etude Merlot from Napa Valley. It was sweet on the nose, with a medium body and mild tannins. Not a lot of fruit for a Cali Merlot - which is good -but a handful of oak, and a hint of bitterness in the finish. We were having a bit of Roaring Forties blue cheese, which I thought "muted" the wine - Sam said "it goes well!"

Quotes:

"smooth", "straight forward", "playing it safe", "solid", "I could drink this everyday" - although I think this was facetious.

Next up was a magnum of 2001 Fisher Vineyards 157 Estate Merlot. We decanted this for about an hour, maybe more and drank it with our first course, mostly bacon dishes. I had bacon with fingerling potatoes and onions, which really complemented the vino.

On the nose, I thought the Fisher resembled a Montepulciano, specifically a 1998 Pepe. Super high toned fruit, with acetone, fig and cherry. I was in love with the nose, I wanted to drink the nose. On the palate it was a little disappointing with mild fruit, medium tannins and a touch of bitterness in the finish. It definitely did not live up to the nose. Sam said it tasted like rotten tomatoes.

It was great to try these Merlots as they really bucked the thought of Cali Merlot being big fruit bombs.

The last Magnum we had was a 2003 Peterson Family Merlot. Unfortunately my pen ran out of ink, but this wine was awesome and won the night. Bizarre in that it did not resemble a Merlot, but more like a well balanced Zin. Gobs of black fruit, spice, with a touch of oak. After decanting for two hours, it could have gone longer. This wine with last for at least 15 years. Go buy some now!

Sorry I forgot to take some pics, but it was a busy night at the restaurant and Jamie left early!

2004 Syzygy Columbia Valley Red Wine

This is my review for the BONDA wine list: From Walla Walla, Washington, this blend of Cab Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Malbec is their third vintage, and I think their best. With a beautiful nose of Pacific Northwest red fruit and forrest floor, following on the tongue with slightly sweet hints of raspberry popsicle and alcohol that quickly burn off to reveal lush, richly developed dark fruit. A great Washington “starter” wine.

We sell it for 48 bucks, and it is one of my favorite wines on the list. I had a bottle the other night with a turkey meatloaf, paprika spiked mashed potatoes and my in-laws. Big gobs of Pacific Northwest fruit, medium tannins - simply divine. Still could use a few years in the bottle to tame the fruit, but pretty awesome now. I had the 2002 & '03 but didn't think they were "there" just yet. I am very jazzed this wine rocks so hard.

Jim said it is just the type of wine he likes to drink. I agree.

2003 Ch. St. Jean Cinq Cepages

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot from Sonoma.

A friend brought this bottle over a few weeks ago to compare to a bunch of '00 and '03 Bordeaux.

I liked this blend a lot more than I expected. Big fruit, but actually had a bit of balance. A bit too young, but tasty.

03.27.08 /Chapallet Mountain Cuvee 2005

The 2004 vintage of this wine is one of my go to house wines, so I was excited to try the '05. A bit of a disappointment, but should get better over time. I can taste a wine and imagine how it will grow, or dissipate - how the tannins will mellow, alcohol will burn off, sweetness relax. But that is not always the case. That is, I cannot always imagine where it will go and if I do, it is not always a correct assessment!

57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot - but the Merlot seems to dominate as it is much sweeter than the previous vintage (which I think had Petit Verdot or Cab Franc). Also it is pretty hot with 14.6% alcohol. It smells a little generic with big black fruit and tons of oak. The Parkerization of wine. This could settle. Not an oak bomb, but very new oaky.

I was at BONDA, so I had the Lamb Tenderloin with Eggplant and Tomato Timbale. The lamb complemented the wine and tamed it a bit. I bought four bottles, hoping to order more (as we went through about 10 cases of the last vintage) but I do not think there will be another order for a few months.

I wasn't floored, and that is how I need to be to put a wine on the list at BONDA.

03.12.08 /2005 Soos Creek Sundance

Jamie brown bagged this one and asked everyone what they thought. I didn't really like it - it was much too sweet - not riesling sweet, but an icky candied cherry, brandyish kirshy. I repeatedly made my disgust known, then ate a little bit of food. The pork chop, which toned down the wine a little.

Everyone else seemed to like it, with Jamie saying, "You really don't like it? I think it is good." He decanted it and continued his disbelief.

I opened a Ridge and decided to go back to the brown bagger after awhile.

Jamie revealed it to be the Soos Creek, which we have heard is really highly rated and hard to find. Not that ratings matter, but a hard to find wine that is considered cultish is always fun and interesting to try. He just ordered it off the website at $23 or so. I love Washington State wines, especially from the Columbia Valley, but this was not a fave.

Primarily Merlot (74%?), with some Cab Sav, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot (I believe). After it mellowed a bit, I returned to enjoy medium tannins, with rich blackberry flavors, with notes of earth - but it was too damn Merlot sweet for me!