2012 Gnarly Head Merlot

Well, it's a casual Saturday and having gone to the supermarket I happened upon a few bottles of tonight's wine in the bargain bin, but we won't hold that against the wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2012 Gnarly Head Merlot, a blend from California.

The wine is a dark indigo at the center, with some brighter garnet along the edges.  The nose exhibits merlot characteristics, with aromas of blackberries, leather, cherry cola and dried herbs.  The taste was rather subdued, despite the marketing pitch on the label, with some sweet, jammy fruit up front, blackberries and plum that transitions to some cherry notes midpalate.  The tannins are rather subdued making for a rather brief and lackluster finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a 7, it's nothing spectacular, but it was in the bargain bin for only $4!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a seared swordfish steak, baked potato and lemon pepper grilled asparagus, thankfully my dinner has outshined the wine this evening.  Cheers!

2012 Protocolo Tinto Tempranillo

TGIF!!!  We are now on summer hours so we get to leave an hour early on Friday and I got a lot accomplished.  I went to the gym and worked out, then came home and mowed the yard before it starts raining again and now I've finally settled down for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of our June office wine club selection, the 2012 Protocolo Tinto tempranillo from Spain.

The wine is a nice bright ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose is classic tempranillo, with aromas of ripe berries, plum and leather and just a hint of mint.  The taste is not as laden with jammy fruit as the nose would suggest, instead the fruit was subdued and quickly transitioned to some notes of iron and toasted oak midpalate.  The finish was rather brief, with some hints of vanilla on the back end, still an easy drinking wine.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7, it's a pleasant, easy drinking wine that was a great value at less than $7!  I picked this one up at G.B. Russo's in Grand Rapids and could be a nice mid-week wine.  Tonight I am enjoying this with some fresh proscuitto perline pasta from Trader Joe's along with some rosa prima vera, a nice easy Friday night meal.  Cheers!