I will give my musings but ALSO! My WSET analysis because my level two test is this Saturday so…
Okay, so peeps turn their noses up at that innocent lamb, the Merlot grape. But they forget that part of the esteemed Bordeaux is made of Merlot. So here I present to you a French Merlot, not from Bordeaux sure, but zee Fraunch have damn good tastes.
Vintage 2014 Le Concierge Merlot
from Pays D’Oc IGP
This très lovely vino will make you realize not all Merlot is evil. Okay, truth: so far I’ve yet to find a California Merlot to my exacting taste. However, this French example is terrifically likable. Terrific as in inspires terror? Only in a good way my lambs.
Is it something to swirl in your hands, mouth, and mind? To contemplate?
Fuck no.
However!
It is something to sip. Something to think on for a moment………dot dot dot……..and then!
You can say oh, yes, a perfectly fine example. It is just enough but not enough to derail the conversation with my non-wine-nerd chums about just how dirty downtown LA is compared with Other Large Metropolitan Areas aka NYC. Conclusion on that:
Comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges but both are dirty in their own special ways.
But if you are a wine asshole like me you can take a minute to think about this vin.
What did I, the resident sipper/thinker/muse-at-large(sothisactresslikestoimagine) wino think? In WSET 2 terms?
the Color: Medium-deep ruby with a whiff of purple
zee Nose: Medium strength strawberries, red plums and raspberries
thar (not a typo) Palate: relatively dry, somewhere between low and medium heavy body, LOW acid, LOWER tannins, low to medium low (somewhere between?) finish…like, this wine lasts a wee bit on the palate but not with nuance.
And the flavors: pretty dang similar to zee Nose: strawberries (roasted), raspberries (fresh) and just a hint of woodiness. But like A Wee hint. It takes someone thinking too hard to think that.
All in all: DAMN good please everyone summer wine.
Just DO NOT fucking mention that is Merlot.
Scrumptious Gruel 