Deerfield Ranch Winery
Merlot Cuvee
North Coast
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Malbec, Cabernet Franc
Kenwood, California, USA
2004
14.2%
$25.00 -- Vino 100, Lakeway, TX
Color: Dark garnet
Nose: Oak, cinnamon cherry pie, licorice, cat pee
Body: Medium
Front: Plum bacon
Middle: Espresso, blackberry, oak
Back: Sticky tannins, sage
Burns clean?:
Cap: Cork
For those who've never had plum bacon, this will be an interesting wine. It's plentifully oaked; if you are an oak-hater, don't even bother with this one, it's uncontroversially oaky. But I like a little oak, and the eddies of earth flavor it can add to the fruit. That said, most of the fruit at this point seems to be on the nose, not so much in the palate. With barbecue-sauce-coated slow-roasted prime rib, it was a fantastic combination inasmuch as the spicy, woody meat helped throw the wine's fruit into relief.
