For reasons I never quite figured out, fadish wine drinkers took a throwaway line in the movie Sideways
[I]f the merlot retreat causes growers and producers to reassess what they were doing and to start making better wines at all levels, I call that an excellent thing.
Still, that could take years as producers, if they are wed to making merlot at all, reconsider where best to plant the grapes and what styles of wine to make. And let?s be clear: not all American merlot is bad merlot. Yes, California does produce some good merlot, though I could make a case that better merlot is coming from Long Island than from California, albeit in very small amounts. But the No. 1 source right now for good American merlot is Washington State.
An interesting point only because two of the best Merlot’s I’ve had in awhile both come from Washington State. One is from Chateau Ste. Michelle, and the other is from Red Diamond, and both of them are equal to some of the best California Merlot out there, if not better.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
I’m a fan of Zinfandel… Particularly from Sonoma (Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley). I’ll take one of those over the $100+ hyped Napa Cab any day.
I’m not sure if you can get it in Virginia, but if you see Belvedere’s Zin, pick some up.
December 14th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
Brad,
Don’t knock that $ 100 Cab too hard, some of it is really, really good. Although I can’t justify spending that much for a bottle of wine except maybe on special occasions.
Sometimes, though, cost doesn’t indicate anything at all. That Red Diamond I mentioned in the Post sells for $ 9.99 a bottle at the supermarket.