Wahoo, the first of three short weeks for the month of September!  Already putting the pain of no more half day Friday’s behind me, for what’s better than a no-Friday Friday?  Or Monday, you get the idea…  Anyway, today we will be wrapping up (at last!) “Six Ways to Sideways – The Merlot Project,” with the final installment, McWilliam’s Merlot.  So without any further ado, here we go!

The Wine: McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Merlot, 2006

The Region: Riverina, Southeast Australia

The Results:  That’s a spicy meat-a-ball!  Right off the bat you are innundated with cinnamon, mocha, and clove notes.  There are some nice black current and plum notes as well, but this is definetly a stronger Merlot so you need to watch out when you’re pairing it with food!  I would say chili, strong cheeses, typical Merlot-friendly grilled meats would pair well, this would also be a great wine to add to a spicy home-made arrabiata sauce if you’re in the mood for some Italian!  More dry than the other Merlots we sampled that evening, but it went over well all the same.  I think of the three, this was the boy’s favorite while my sister enjoyed the “Encore,” the best and I the 181.

So what did we learn from this little project?  There are some phenomenal Merlots out there that should not be overlooked just because some consider Merlot, “Your Mother’s Varietal!”  Granted, my own mother can’t drink Merlot, or any other red wine for that matter, but that’s besides the point…  :)  Merlot is going to vary from place to place.  Based on the 6 bottles we tried I would conclude that the Pacific Merlots (Four Sisters & McWilliam’s, both from Australia) are going to be a bit more on the spicy side, the Old World (Ecco Domani & Encore, from Italy & France) are going to be a bit more smooth and fruity), and domestic Merlots (181 & Bogle) are somewhere in between!  I hope you find this helpful next time you’re perusing the aisles of your local liquor store or selecting from a fancy wine menu.  I know I enjoyed the challenge 

(photo credit: www.mcwilliamswine.com)

Ok, seriously, full day Friday’s are a load of bologna.  I know it’s September, but couldn’t they just extend summer hours one more week until after the holiday?  I am DYING already, and to make things worse my future husband has the day off and is thoroughly enjoying his time doing laundry, recycling bottles, dust-busting cat fur and going to the bank.  Ok, at least we’re both a bit miserable with what the day has handed us.  But tonight we get to hang out with our LOVELY friends and drink wine and play board games and wait out this ever-less-intimidating “Earl” fellow…  I’m thinking a nice chilled rosé, I’m in the mood for something pretty and pink.  Mmm, and heirloom tomatoes if I can find them!  What are you up to this lovely last weekend of the summer?  Hope it’s something fun and relaxing!

Ah, and because I just can’t bring myself to wrap up the series just yet, I’m holding off until next week to finish the tale of “Six Ways to Sideways,” hopefully by then this photo issue I’ve been having will be resolved and I’ll be able to post in the full image glory that the project deserves!  Until then…  Prost!

(photo credit: winetastingguy.com)

Ugh, is it really only Thursday?  How is it possible that this week already feels so much longer if I haven’t even had to work my first full Friday since May?  Ok, I’ll shut up about that before people start to hate me…  Anyway, next up in our night of tasting fun – another Merlot from California!  What, it’s a big state and it’s easy to find California Merlots!  I’m not being lazy, I’m just trying to make it easier for you to find the wines I’m blogging about!  So here we go…

The Wine:  181 Merlot, 2007

The Region: Lodi, California

The Results: Great, solid Merlot.  This is a perfect variteal wine, the plush tannins you like with the black cherry flavor you love.  A great spice on the finish, this is the sort of bottle you get when you want what you expect from a classic Merlot.  The winery calls this a “Bordeaux style” Merlot as the soil makeup in the vineyard that produces this wine is similar to that of the right bank of Bordeaux.  I would say they are spot on.  Pair this wine with any bold dish like grilled meats or hearty sauces and stews.  And for $10.99 a bottle, you’ve got to love the price!  So sad, I can’t believe that tomorrow I’ll wrap up our little Merlot adventure!  Well, at least I have a fantastic wedding to attend this weekend at the Boston Public Library with (almost) all of my old college roommates!  Always good to have something fabulous to look forward to  :)  On that note, please start brainstorming and let me know what you think I should focus on next at MoreThanMerlot!  I’d love to take on another little project like “Six Ways to Sideways – The Merlot Project” (HA!  Said it again!)  Your feedback would be much appreciated!  Hasta manana…

(photo credit: 337wine.com)

“Ooohhh, we’re half way there…”  Sorry, currently working on wedding playlist, I’m thinking we’ll finish it off with a wicked 80′s montage.  Yes?  But seriously, we are half way through “Six Ways to Sideways – The Merlot Project” already!  I don’t know about you, but I feel I’ve been learning a LOT.  It’s fun having a little project, it gives me good focus.  Perhaps an in-depth look at wine and exotic food pairings next, that sounds exciting!  But for now, I give you Installment III, a little journey to the hills of northern California…

The Wine:  Bogle Merlot, 2008

The Region:  Vineyards throughout Clarksburg, Lodi, Monterey and El Dorado, California

The Results:  The tannins are what really stood out to me in this wine.  If I were tasting blind, I probably would have thought this was a Bordeaux-style blend with some Cab mixed in.  The softer cherry of a traditional Merlot was there, but not jumping out at me.  This wine was aged in new oak for 12 months which gave it a great spice profile, and while I enjoyed the wine I think I would enjoy it more in a year or so once it has the chance to mellow out a bit.  If you want to drink it now, maybe a nice hour or two in a decanter would be the solution.  While I bought this bottle at one store as a part of a 3-$30 deal, I found it days later in another store for just $7.99.  So picking up a case to age in my *ahem* “wine cellar” would be a good idea!  All in all, I think the wine lives/will live up to the good name of Bogle wine and would be a good bottle to pick up for the price.

So how could we POSSIBLY live up to the first three installments of “Six Ways to Sideways – The Merlot Project?”  (HA!  You thought I wouldn’t use the full title of the project in this post, boy were YOU fooled)  I am thinking a little rapid-fire wine tasting with the help of the family!  My sister and her husband are coming for dinner on Friday and my parents will be swinging by after my cousin’s rehearsal dinner later on in the evening.  So plus me and my fiancé we will be 6 people divided by 3 courses and 4 glasses of wine per bottle plus 1-2 after dinner drinks…  well, whatever the numbers I think we’ll be able to manage three bottles of wine throughout the evening so I can open all three at once to do BLIND TASTING FUN.  Oh my goodness, I know my brother-in-law in particular is going to be so excited, he hearts wine almost as much as he hearts the Red Sox (this is a joke, although a lovely person my BIL is from the “bad side of Connecticut“).  I hope they’re up for the challenge!  In the meantime, while we’re waiting for those reviews I will tell you a little bit about the food and wine we had this weekend when we had our own little “Restaurant Week” meal at home over the next couple of days.  Oh, and get ready, my new iPhone 4 is arriving today so I will be able to take high quality pictures way more easily and thus can incorporate more of my own photos on the blog!  I know you’re all JUST as excited as I am…

“…Take my hand and we’ll make it I swear…  Oooh-OH!”

(photo credit: boglewinery.com)

You know what?  After last week, I don’t even mind that it’s Monday.  What a long, miserable week.  Nothing could be that bad, and we have so much to look forward to this week!  My sister will be in town, we are having a birthday dinner for my mom, going to our cousin’s wedding, hanging out on the beach, so take THAT august 16th-20th!  And how better to start the week than to share with you the second part of my latest adventure: Six Ways to Sideways, The Merlot Project, Installment II!  Sorry, I like the title, I know you probably already think it’s getting old that I keep repeating it…  Moving on!

The Wine: Four Sisters Merlot, 2008

The Region: Central Victoria, Australia

The Results:  Another great bottle!  I must say, I was slightly more partial to the Ecco Domani from the other night, but I think this is only because I had the same dinner with both wines and the first wine just so happened to pair better with the meal.  Maybe my opinion is being affected by my strong disdain for leftovers, but I digress.  Four Sisters has fruity notes but what really stood out to me was the spice.  I read later that the wine is aged in French oak barrels, that will definitely spice things up a bit!  I think you will most enjoy this wine when pairing it with a stronger dish.  Think beef stew, caramelized onions, blue cheese, or as the Four Sisters site suggests – Chinese food!  I mentioned previously that I picked up the bottle as part of a 3 for $30 deal so the price is right, and with a screw top bottle we are saving the environment with each glass we pour!  Who could say no to that?

Next stop – The good ‘ole US of A.  I hope it kicks some a**, just like our country.  (Sorry, I’m America, I’m contractually obligated to make statements like that twice a year plus once on Flag Day)

(photo credit: aussiewines.com)

“I’m not drinking Merlot!  If anyone’s drinking Merlot, I’m leaving!”

Ah, the famous line from “Sideways.”  Great movie.  I do get a little peeved by this line, however.  I mean, Merlot is a Noble Grape.  It is one of the most well-known grapes for a reason – it produces excellent wine.  Now, the mission of MoreThanMerlot.com is to help people understand that there are many different types of wine out there – trying lesser known varietals will open you palate to a variety of flavors and open your wallet to big savings.  However, you cannot rule out the big boys completely!  I recently realized that in my quest to share with you the Torrontés and Carménères of the world I had never actually reviewed a Merlot wine.  I gasped, I cried, I nibbled nervously at my nails and then immediately made my way to the local wine shop.  Thus began my newest undertaking- “Six Ways to Sideways – The Merlot Project.”  6 Merlot reviews in a row, so take THAT!  And I must say, my first bit of research left me more than satisfifed…

The Wine – Ecco Domani Merlot, 2007

The Region – Trentino, Italy

The Results – Wow, I forgot how much I really like Merlot!  This Italian Merlot (ok, it’s technically only 97% Merlot, but that’s good enough for government work!) is soft with a black cherry flavor and mild spice.   The tasting notes claim a strong blackberry on the nose, I guess they’re close but I didn’t pick up on it until I read the notes and smelled it again.  The cherry is what definitely stands out to me, and the balanced acidity made it very easy and pleasant to drink.  The wine was $10.99 but I picked it up with two other Merlots as part of a 3-$30 deal.  I would definitely buy this wine again, great with Italian food, grilled meats, strong cheeses, or just your typical Tuesday afternoon!  Eer, I mean evening…

Our next stop will be to Australia.  Will Australian Merlot hold up?  Will it fall flat to its old world counterparts?  Will I remember to take tasting notes while watching Jersey Shore?  Ha, Jersey Shore starts at 10:00pm, it will be long gone by then…

Until the next round, Salute!

(photo credits eccodomani.com & foxsearchlight.com)