Groth Vineyards and Winery
Merlot
Napa Valley
Oakville, California, USA
1998
13.8%
$33.99 -- Twin Liquors, Austin, TX
Color: Medium to light peachy garnet
Nose: Pepper, oolong tea, orange, black currant
Body: Medium
Front: Dried cherry, mint
Middle: Plum, tar
Back: Firm tannins, tobacco
Burns clean?: Yes
Cap: Cork
This wine is much to my taste. 12 years old, American Merlot, and still tannic, but nicely balanced. It's seriously old-worldy. It's like...grandpa's fruit closet. Didn't your grandpa have a fruit closet?
Your obvious question is, is it really worth $34? Not if you like Lodi Zinfandel, no. But if you like licking a steering wheel from the 1970s or chewing bubble gum while smoking a Gloria Cubana, yes. It might benefit from a medium-strong cheese as accompaniment.
