2009 Cabernet Merlot – BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Two of the great Bordeaux grapes come together here in our Okanagan Valley-grown blend—Merlot for substance and “bass notes”, the Cabernet for elegance and subtlety and a lot of “highs”. Somehow, it came out even softer than our Merlot of the same vintage, but showing fine tannins—tame tannins!—thanks to the influence of the Cab. First sniff: spice, greens, even—lurking in the back there—what might be a little eucalyptus. The finish really lets the fruit shine all the way, and the closing note of mellowness is the Merlot, having the last word.
You could write a cookbook on all the different dishes this wine likes: lamb, lots of ways, for sure—roasts, chops on the Barbie, ground lamb meatballs in tomato and onion sauce, breast of lamb stuffed, the French way—they call it la faletta; meat samosas; Savoy potatoes in rich beef broth; baked casseroles; bbq short ribs with onions and vinegar; braised chicken with red wine and brandy; steak and kidney pie; five-spiced beef; tomato-cheese chowder; chocolate mayonnaise cake.
For a dinner adventure, look up the famous comfort food dish from Finland, called karjalanpaisti— beef, lamb and pork hotpot that’s surprisingly simple to make (just ten minutes) but it takes five hours to cook!
Winner of a Silver Medal at the 2011 Los Angeles International Wine Competition.