Happy Saturday! I am exhausted. I decided to clear leaves today, which meant getting up on the roof to blow them off and clear the gutters, then blowing the front yard, then blowing from the ground cover in the back yard so I could then get them all up with the leaf vacuum, so now I really need a nice dinner and a glass of wine before I collapse! Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a wine club selection that arrived yesterday, the 2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot. So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!
The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice body and clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot. A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry, lavender and kirsch, that beckon you to take a sip. That first sip is a dynamic layering of flavors from an initial rush of ripe berry, which transitions to some notes of vanilla, caramel and tawny port before leading into some peppery spice notes near the finish. The tannins are well structured to provide nice body for the long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite for this underappreciated varietal. This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from Yankee pot roast to braised short ribs, lamb chops to grilled steak. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared grass fed New York strip, bacon maple roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato. Cheer!
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