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Wine Details
Price:
$19.95 per bottle
Description:
Crane Ridge is the gently sloping formation of hills running along the southeastern corner of the famous Livermore Valley where the Wente family has planted Merlot vines. The Reserve wines produced from these Livermore Valley vineyards deliver fully ripened fruit with depth of character. The 2004 vintage offers undertones of blackberry and vanilla complemented by a smoky finish from the oak aging. The Crane Ridge Reserve is an excellent example of Merlot- it shows off the best of the varietal’s characteristics, with additional richness from the Cabernet Sauvignon component of the blend.
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Varietal Definition
Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.
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