Meritage is pronounced like heritage. Meritage is a licensed name which started back in the late 1980’s. A Meritage wine can be made with these Bordeaux type grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and according to meritagewine.org/red-meritage, St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère. I did not know about these last three grapes.
If there is any other type of grape in the blend then it is only a ‘blend’ , it would not qualify as a Meritage Wine. Also, one grape cannot be more than 90% of the wine.
This Meritage has three of the classic Bordeaux grapes: 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot. And, for me I like it when there is more Cab Franc and less Merlot. It has a 13.9% abv. It is from the Sonoma Coast and bottled by: Copeland Creek Vineyards.
This Meritage puts the big berry flavors on the sidelines and has a strong starting lineup of cherry flavors. It is like they squeezed some black cherries and red cherries to make this wonderful taste profile. The Franc grapes and Merlot grapes seem to be in control with a nice supple texture and earthy structure to keep things together. There is a soft and delicate herbal like spice in the background.
If you can find a bottle of this 2002 buy it – it is still very good and the big cherry notes are a singing.
I had no intension of writing a cigar review tonight with this wine. Ok, it still won’t be a review. Anyways, I just wanted to light up a stick and not think and finish the night off just right. Well, I selected a cigar that I have enjoyed in the past but, this last bundle of 1666 Graycliff Pirates were not very good. The color of the maduro wrappers on these cigars, in this bundle, were all brownish/black and they should be jet black. Every cigar I have smoked out of this bundle has been dry in texture and boring in taste. So, this was a good choice because if I decided to end the night and only smoke half the cigar – who cares – and it is one more cigar gone from this bad bundle.
Well, this is why I am writing this – wow, this cigar is very good with this wine. It is like the wine brought this cigar to life. With every puff of the cigar I kept thinking to myself – this is how this cigar used to taste. My plan now is to smoke the remaining 1666 Pirates with some red wine! Hope it works.
I was planning to pair this wine with my 1932 Padilla Salomon cigar tomorrow. Oh, this should be great tomorrow.
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