About WiNEZ

WiNEZ was a monthly event at EZ Street Saloon in South Range, WI. Unfortunately, due to lower turn out the owners had decided to stop hosting the event. The last wine night at EZ was held on November 12, 2014. But that is not to say the die hards won't be getting together for some wine tasting periodically at EZ Street Saloon. I will continue to blog the wines we have tasted pre starting this blog, along with our impromptu meetings, and maybe transform the blog into something more personal. We will see where it goes. I do know the blog will still be about wine!

So for my WiNEZ pals you can count on this blog to serve as an archive of what was consumed and a reference for your spending sprees. For those who are just curious about what the Northwest Wisconsinites are drinking here are some thoughts… but be warned I am by no means a wine expert-I only know what I like. Since I am not an expert I will try to include the winemakers label descriptions as well.

Salute! or as the Finnish would say Kippis!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Warming Blackstone Reserve Merlot

Fall was definitely in the air this morning, a cool 45 degrees and that damp earthly scent in the air. Even my dog knows fall is in the air when we went for a walk at 6am.  A new spring in his step as he knows hunting season is just around the corner and the dog days of August are behind him.  While 6 am was a little early to be thinking of wine, the crisp noon hour isn't.  The entire day makes me think of the upcoming fall leaf colors and warming red wines.

With these thoughts in mind I chose to relive the Blackstone Sonoma Reserve 2007 Merlot.  This wine is not 100% Merlot of old, but a pleasant blend consisting of 85% Merlot,7% Cabernet Sauvignon,6% Ruby Cabernet, 2% Petit Verdot. The nearly half of the grapes comes from the hot climate Alexander Valley (45%) while Dry Creek Valley (22%), Sonoma Coast (15%),  Carneros (10%),  Sonoma Valley (2%),  San Joaquin County (6%) make up the rest.  After harvesting the grapes at the peak of ripeness they are cold soaked for 3-5 days to bring out the flavors of the fruit.  The primary fermenting takes place in the steel tanks. The wine is then aged in for 20 months in a combination of new and old oak barrels. Despite the complex blend of grapes and vineyards and the wine making process, the wine itself isn't overly complex.  The ripe fruits dominate the tastebuds with just a hint of oaky spices.

Varietal: Merlot 
Producer/Importer:  Blackstone
Region: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2007
Price: $19.99
Tasting notes:
 Sight (Color/Clarity):  clear light ruby edges with an opaque 
                   black red body
 Smell (bouquet, aroma): musty wood and ripe fruit
Taste (acidity, balance, body): hint of spice, cranberry and black cherry.
                   Slightly dry with a nice balance of acid and tannins. long finish.
Bottle Presentation: black bottle with an elegant classic black label
Label description: "Our Sonoma Reserve Merlot is an elegant, well-balanced wine with attractive aromas of cocoa, black currant, clove and toasted oak. The wine is full-bodied with layers of juicy black cherries, coffee, and clove, finishing with a velvety mouthfeel and a well-integrated structure. After pairing with beef or pork tenderloin, cassoulet, sausage, or beef ravioli, don’t try to subdue the subtle “Bravo” that might cross your lips." -Winery
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10): 7.5
Date consumed: November 10, 2010
Comments: acidity: 5.9 g/l, pH: 3.57, alc: 14.5%
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