Don't Fear the Grape

2009 Ménage à Trois

Price: $6.00
Varietal: 46% Zinfandel, 31% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Website: www.menageatroiswines.com
Winemakers Notes: Even if red wine is not your speed, give our Ménage à Trois Red a try. This wine exposes the fresh, ripe, jam-like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Ménage à Trois Red brings together three strange bedfellows. On top we’ve got Zinfandel, a saucy tease that brings blackberry and raspberry jam to the relationship. Merlot, with its generous mouth feel and red fruits, fits perfectly in the middle. The rich flavors and firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon make it the ideal. Our 2009 Ménage à Trois exposes the fresh, ripe, jam like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Forward, silky and soft, this delicious dalliance makes the perfect accompaniment for grilled meats or chicken.

Tad’s Rating:
Patrick’s Rating:
Erin’s Rating:

Value:

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Episode 42 [ 19:35 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (183)

John and I taste a sampling of wines from Columbia Crest.

2006 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot

Price: $8.00-$11.00
Varietal: Merlot
Region: Washington > Columbia Valley
John’s Rating: 88-90 points

2007 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $8.00-$11.00
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Washington > Columbia Valley
John’s Rating: 88-90 points

2004 Columbia Crest Reserve Merlot

Price: $25.00-$30.00
Varietal: Merlot
Region: Washington > Columbia Valley
John’s Rating: 92 points

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In-Depth 8 [ 15:35 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (182)

John and I taste a sampling of wines from the Meek Family Estate.

2006 WJ Meek Syrah

Price: $15.00
Varietal: Syrah
Region: Washington > Yakima Valley
John’s Rating: 88-91 points

2005 Meek Family Estate Syrah

Price: $25.00
Varietal: Syrah
Region: Washington > Yakima Valley
John’s Rating: 92-93 points

2005 Meek Family Estate “Inherit”

Price: $30.00
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot
Region: Washington > Yakima Valley
John’s Rating: 92 points

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In-Depth 7 [ 18:57 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (172)

Topic: It’s taken some abuse in the last few years, but Merlot remains one of the world’s most popular wines.

Tasting: 2005 Benziger Family Winery Feingold Vineyard Merlot

Price: $50 for a 4 pack from wine.woot.com
Varietal: 100% Merlot
Region: California > Sonoma County > Sonoma Mountain > Feingold Vineyard
Website: www.benziger.com

Tad’s Rating: Drinkable
Patrick’s Rating: Drinkable

Our other podcasts:

Animation Station: www.animationstation.info
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Episode 9 [ 34:47 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (35)

Last week (October 1st) I attended a wine tasting I discovered on meetup.com. It was held at the Black Dog Café in downtown St. Paul and was the first in their Meetings with the Wine Trade series. Jane Greenheck from Paustis Wine Company shared her passion for French wines.

It was a rainy night that seemed to keep people home and resulted in a very small turnout (6 people). That made for a very intimate experience and discussion. Jane presented six wines, three whites and three reds.

I must admit, I haven’t drunk many French wines before. I think I’ve subconsciously avoided them in favor of lesser known wine regions. I realize now I’ve been doing myself a disservice; all of these wines were extremely drinkable (yes, even the whites).

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