| In this article I report on several food pairings for a | | | | The next meal was a cheeseless lasagna with ground |
| California red wine. The selected wine is a Merlot | | | | chicken and frozen peas. While the wine was fairly |
| grown somewhere in California and vinified by the E. | | | | long and round its fruit wasn't clearly defined. It |
| & J. Gallo Winery, a very high volume producer. | | | | picked up when facing the ground black peppercorns. |
| Merlot grapes probably originated in Bordeaux, France. | | | | This wine far surpassed the Gallo wines of my youth. |
| I don't think anyone is going to expect Bordeaux | | | | My final food pairing involved a commercially prepared |
| quality at these prices; the question is can we get a | | | | barbecued chicken breast in a light herb sauce |
| drinkable wine. | | | | accompanied by a side of soft wheat kernels that |
| OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste | | | | had been cooked in a beef sauce. The Merlot |
| and review are purchased at the full retail price. | | | | became rather sweet. Now you can taste the fruit. It |
| Wine Reviewed Barefoot Cellars Merlot 2007 13.3% | | | | was somewhat acidic and sharper in the presence of |
| alcohol about $8 | | | | the wheat than when facing the chicken. As the meal |
| Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. | | | | went on it became fruitier. This is probably a function |
| Tasting Note: Ruby red in color, the nose reveals red | | | | of the temperature; I put the bottle in the fridge for |
| berry, boysenberry, chocolate, and anise. Medium | | | | about 15 minutes before the meal. As it warmed, it |
| bodied, fruity, slightly tannic on the finish. Serving | | | | changed character somewhat. |
| suggestion: Beef, pasta with red sauce, chicken, | | | | I ended the bottle with two local cheeses. In the |
| stews. And now for my reactions. | | | | presence of a white Muenster the wine was fruity |
| I first tried this wine with a beef stew accompanied | | | | and slightly acidic. It was somewhat consistent and |
| by carrots and potatoes, perked up with Harissa, a | | | | even a bit chewy. And when paired with a yellow |
| fiery Tunisian hot-pepper sauce. The wine was | | | | Cheddar it did become more acidic, but didn't really |
| hearty but definitely not very subtle. It tasted of | | | | have a lot of taste. Basically the wine washed down |
| plums, chocolate, and tobacco. The length was | | | | the cheese. |
| moderate. I liked the way that the Merlot balanced | | | | Final verdict. OK, but nothing more. There are enough |
| the spices. There was a bit left in my glass so I took | | | | cheap wines around that I don't think I'll be buying |
| a stab in the dark; I tried it with a home-made deep | | | | another bottle. Perhaps I should have known from |
| dish apple pie with raisins. This wine was rather flat | | | | the label, gimmicks usually don't do the job. |
| and yet managed to maintain itself. | | | | |