Bonny Doon Vineyards I Am Not Drinking Any $%&*#! Merlot

It would seem to be a cold day in climate changèd Santa Cruz that a Merlot would pass the portals of Bonny Doon Vineyard. And yet… one must (as painful a proposition as this might be) remain open to the possibility that the The Cépage That Dare Not Speak Its Name might (gasp) be somehow not just bearable, but in fact, utterly delicious - soft, luscious and plush (not not in a slatternly way), wellstructured, and even, dare I say, reasonably complex. You may well be looking at us, uhh - sideways -  for saying it, but I will be drinking some $%&*#! Merlot.

Medium ruby color, with a lovely dusty aroma of fraise de bois, and licorice and gingerbread, with the subtlest suggestion of garrigue de Provence. (I suspect that’s the Cabernet Franc.) The aromatics continue to build as the wine evolves in the glass. Seemingly light on the palate when first opened, the wine builds in amplitude in the glass with more air. The Merlot has wonderful natural acidity (go figure!), medium tannins and great persistence.

This would be an absolutely perfect wine with lamb and rosemary. Other ideas include pizza with Italian sausage, grilled steak with Merlot reduction, grilled vegetables.