"merlot" news and stories

Wine of the Week: Merlot

by Kristine Hansen, Posted Jan 1st 2010 @ 3:00PM

Merlot is a red-wine grape grown in many vino regions, including France (where it's the most widely planted grape for Bordeaux wine, accounting for two-thirds of the world's total plantings), the U.S. (mostly California but also Washington and Long Island), Italy and many New World regions (including Australia and New Zealand).

After the film Sideways (2004), Merlot morphed into a bad, sad reputation, its full-body profile snubbed in favor of other reds, including Pinot Noir. Yet it wasn't as terrible as what had happened in France years earlier: a severe frost in 1956, vintages left to rot during the '60s and Bordeaux's banning of Merlot vines between 1970 and 1975 nearly destroyed Merlot. In the '90s there was an upswing and Merlot soared back into popularity with Americans – only to be rattled once again when Sideways debuted. Now, however, Merlot is making a comeback, with many excellent bottles being released.

Filed under: Trends, Spirits

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Shrimp, Slaw and Siam - Miami Herald in 60 Seconds

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by Monika Bartyzel, Posted Oct 15th 2009 @ 12:00PM

Photo: WordRidden, Flickr.

What's shrimp the "Key West way"? Peel-and-eat, with a side of Tropical Coleslaw.
And speaking of slaw -- it doesn't have to be predictable and traditional; it can be amped up with international flavor.
Desperation Dinners shares an at-home recipe for Traditional Steak Diane.
Chismosa Taqueria is Miami Beach's new Mexican takeout spot dishing up "gooey quesadillas" and more.
Edda Martinez is seeing her Edda's Cake Designs go national, with bundt cakes available online.
Writer Fred Tasker pleads that we forget "Sideways"-instigated merlot hate and revisit the red, with 2005 Rutherford Hill and 2006 Gloria Ferrer.
Siam Bistro, in West Kendall, serves up Thai fare in the "Bangkok style of the south."
Bar Rosso gets a stinger review, saying it "seems cold and empty, the staff untrained and the food simply not up to the task."
Nabisco morphs Wheat Thins into Wheat Thins Flatbread.

Filed under: In Sixty Seconds

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Best Boxed Wines

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by Slashfood Editor, Posted Sep 1st 2009 @ 4:19PM

More people are drinking wine in a box than ever before. Read about the best boxed wines on Slashfood.

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Think Outside the (Wine) Box

by Kat Kinsman
Myths, Truths & Shopping Suggestions

Boxed wines of the past had a deservedly bad rap, but new packaging techniques have enticed makers of excellent vino to get juiced about wine boxes. We sipped and swirled over a dozen of 'em, so keep clicking to get our top picks (and a list of ones to skip) and one heck of a lot of reasons why we think great boxed wine is the wave of the future.

Nicole Goksel

Getty Images North America

Think Outside the (Wine) Box

Nicole Goksel

Delicato Bota Box Chardonnay - 2005 (California)

Verdict: We liked it.
Tasting notes: Great floral smell, easy-drinking, a little bit dry
Tip: Once bottled wine has been opened, it's got a 4 day shelf life before it starts to really oxidize and turn. Because the majority of boxed wines are built with a bag-in-box system that doesn't allow air in, it'll stay fresh for at least 4 weeks.

Nicole Goksel

Three Thieves Bandit Pinot Grigio - 2004 (California)

Verdict: Our favorite of the white wines
Tasting notes: Light, herbal, kiwi
Tip: Because boxed wine stays fresh for a significant amount of time, it's easy to keep a box on hand in the cupboard or fridge so you can pour a single glass whenever you'd like -- without having to go to the fuss of opening a new bottle or worrying about waste. It's perfect for those drinking a glass a day for a healthy heart.

Nicole Goksel

Washington Hills Columbia Valley Chardonnay - 2004 (Washington State)

Verdict: We loved it.
Tasting notes: Citrusy, grassy, fresh, slightly chalky
Tip:While a few wines come in 1 or 5 liter boxes, the box you'll usually find on the shelves is the "3 liter cask," which holds the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine.

Nicole Goksel

Banrock Station Chardonnay - 2006 (South Eastern Austrailia)

Verdict: We loved it.
Tasting notes: Peachy, vanilla, not too oaky
Tip: The 3-liter boxes we sampled cost between $11.99 and $29.99, with the average being around $16.99. While the high end of that range might be a bit more than you might wish to spend on an everyday bottle, remember -- you're actually getting 4 bottles worth. Even at $7.50 a bottle, that's still a steal.

Nicole Goksel

Three Thieves Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon - 2002 (California)

Verdict: Our favorite of the red wines (tie)
Tasting notes: Buttery, blackberries, also comes in a 4-pack of single-serving boxes
Tip: Even if you're short a home wine rack, there's no need to worry, 'cause the flat box packaging makes it as easy to store as cereal.

Nicole Goksel

Cintra Venezie Pinot Noir - Non-Vintage (Italy)

Verdict: We liked it
Tasting notes: A bit astringent, complex
Tip: Not so crafty with a corkscrew? No worries, 'cause the tab or cap is built right in-- eliminating the risk of crumbled cork and the resulting air exposure which taints the taste. Taps and screwcaps might have seemed tacky once upon a time, but more and more great winemakers are sealing the deal.

Nicole Goksel

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena Vin de Pays - 2004 (France)

Verdict: Our favorite of the red wines (tie)
Tasting notes: Spicy, hint of blackberries, complex
Tip: If your friends seem resistant to the idea of boxed wine, try pouring in another room, and bringing in the glasses on a tray. Only after they've ooh-ed and ahh-ed, let 'em in on what it is they've been drinking. Great wines can come in square packages.

Nicole Goksel

French Rabbit Merlot - 2004 (France)

Verdict: We liked it
Tasting notes: Cherries, spicy chocolate
Tip: Because boxed wine has been kept under such tight wraps, aerobically speaking, make sure to give it a big ol' swirl in the glass, let it sit for a minute to fully open up and aerate, or dig out that decanter from the back of the cabinet.

Nicole Goksel

Thirsty Lizard Shiraz - 2005 (South Eastern Australia)

Verdict: We liked it very much
Tasting Notes: Plummy, jammy, easy-drinking
Tip: While this might all seem like a packaging revolution, folks in Europe and Australia have known and enjoyed the benefits of boxed booze for a long time. It's the perfect no-fuss way to enjoy the sorts of wines that are best enjoyed while they're still young and fresh -- no wine cellar required.

Nicole Goksel

Filed under: Taste Test

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Merlot - Wine of the Week

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by Gretchen Roberts, Posted Jan 5th 2009 @ 2:01PM

With the exception of White Zinfandel, Merlot may be the most-maligned wine in a couple of decades. In the 2004 movie Sideways, Miles, the main character and Pinot Noir lover, repeatedly trashes Merlot as the Worst. Grape. Ever. Somehow the wave caught on, and Pinot Noir sales soared while Merlot staggered along.

Of course Miles was right, to a point. The U.S. was awash in mediocre Merlot, most of which didn't even come close to realizing the potential of the grape. (Now we have the same problem with Pinot Noir, but I digress.) Merlot does have its merits, and I ask you to give it--or rather, certain bottlings of it--a chance.

Compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot tends to be softer, less tannic, and fruitier. Its flavors range from cherry to black plum and a hint of herbaciousness. In Bordeaux, Merlot is one of the two main varietals (along with Cabernet Sauvignon) and on the Right Bank is the dominant varietal.

Read my Merlot recommendations after the jump.

Filed under: Wine of the Week, Drink Recipes, Drinks

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Prohibition - Celebrating the End of an Era

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by Gretchen Roberts, Posted Dec 4th 2008 @ 2:00PM

Wine lovers all over the country have reason to celebrate tomorrow: December 5, 1933, marked the end of the 13-year Prohibition on alcohol in the U.S. (Of course the resulting state-by-state laws are still confusing, cumbersome, and laden with politics, but individuals can speak up to their legislative representatives through the nonprofit organization Free the Grapes.)

During those long thirteen years of Prohibition, the California wine industry suffered. Most wineries were forced to close their doors, and those who remained open produced wines for medicinal and religious use. Farmers willing to ride out Prohibition fared a little better: each male was allowed to make 200 gallons of wine each year for personal use, so the demand for grapes around the country was fairly high, even as commercial winemaking all but disappeared.

This year, a new line of wines called Festival 34 was released to commemorate California's first harvest following the repeal of Prohibition 75 years ago. The wines include a Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all sourced from California's Central Coast and made by C & B Vintage Cellars in Napa.

I'm usually skeptical of fancy marketing ploys when it comes to wine, because there's often an inverse relationship between the quality of the wine and the cleverness of the label. Festival 34 is an exception for three reasons. One, the concept is truly clever, as it calls attention to and celebrates the end of a terrible era for wine lovers; two, the label art is gorgeous and practically collectible; and three, the wines are quite good. The Chardonnay was too oaky for my taste, but I loved the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both are a great value for around $12-15.

I absolutely believe that moderation (called "temperance" in the old days), not prohibition, should be the buzzword with alcohol, and on the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, I raise my glass to the liberation of the vineyards.

Filed under: Drink Recipes, New Products

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