California Dreamin’ for #MerlotMe Month, Part I (#winePW)

Big, bold California Merlot – is that the kind of wine you’re dreaming of?

I regard myself as an equal-opportunity wine fan. To each wine, there is a season or a reason. That’s why, during #MerlotMe Month in October, I’m delighted to be California Dreamin’ of Merlot that punches up the fruit, acidity and flavor. Bring it!

This Saturday 10/9, the Wine Pairing Weekend bloggers are exploring the wonderful world of Merlot on Twitter, beginning at 8 am PT/11 am ET. You’re invited to join us for the #MerlotMe chat and celebration. Simply follow the #winePW hashtag.

Please note that while the wines for these posts were provided, opinions are my own.

Why California Merlot?

Merlot is the most widely planted wine grape variety of the Bordeaux region of France, and the second most widely planted black wine grape in the world. Soft and smooth, Merlot is frequently a blending partner to the more tannic Cabernet Sauvignon. Researchers at the University of California at Davis discovered that the Merlot grape is an offspring of Cabernet Franc.

Merlot was brought to California in the 1850s and 1870s, but the grape didn’t become fashionable until the 1990s. In 1985, less than 2,000 acres of Merlot existed in California, and by 2003, that had increased to more than 50,000 acres. Grown throughout the state, Merlot vines are planted the most in Lodi/San Joaquin County, followed by Napa Valley, Sonoma and Monterey counties.

In 2004, the film “Sideways” was released in which the lead character, a Pinot Noir fan, adamantly refuses to drink Merlot wine. In what was termed the “Sideways effect,” sales of Merlot plummeted throughout the U.S. Since then, the popularity of Merlot has rebounded. Of California table wines sold in U.S. stores, Merlot is the third leading red wine after Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends. Source: The Fifty Best.

A trio of California Merlot

1. 2018 Rombauer Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley
   83% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot

In 1972, when Koerner and Joan Rombauer moved their two children, two horses and five dogs to Napa Valley, they were already well acquainted with the relationship between wine and food. Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombauer wrote the internationally renowned cookbook, The Joy of Cooking, and his German ancestors had deep roots in the winegrowing region of Rheingau.

Koerner and Joan established Rombauer Vineyards in 1980, and in 1984 they released their first California-style Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Today, the third generation of the Rombauer family produces wines from both estate and grower vineyards. Their Merlot is sourced from the Napa side of Carneros where the clay soils are similar to those of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. The cool climate allows the thin-skinned grapes to gradually develop flavor and tannin while retaining natural acidity.

• My tasting notes: Deep ruby in color. Black cherry and smoky aromas with a hint of mocha. Palate is slightly grippy (tannic) with black cherry and a hint of green bell pepper. Medium acidity and medium+ finish. Alcohol: 14.5%. Average price: $46.

2. 2020 Ironstone Vineyards Merlot, Lodi

Ironstone Vineyards is a family-owned wine producer located in the Sierra Foothills, in eastern California. 

In 1948, founder John Kautz acquired 12 acres of land that he planted to classic Californian grape varieties. Today, Ironstone Vineyards is still managed by the Kautz family. They now own more than 5,000 acres of vineyards in the Lodi and Sierra Foothills AVAs. The estate is named after the limestone and schist rock slopes that were blasted to build the family’s wine caverns and winery.

• My tasting notes: Deep ruby in color. Cherry, smoke and an herby note dominate the nose. On the palate, cherry, black cherry and a hint of mocha combine with vibrant, medium+ acidity. Alcohol: 14.5%. Average price: $11. Good value for price.

3. 2018 Cakebread Cellars Merlot, Napa Valley
99% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon

Cakebread Cellars is located in the Rutherford AVA of Napa Valley, one of the best-known, family-owned and operated producers in California. Founded in 1973 by Jack and Dolores Cakebread, the business was expanded in 1982 through the purchase of adjacent land. Cakebread now has 15 estate vineyards and produces approximately 175,000 cases a year.

Cakebread’s flagship wines are its Napa Chardonnay and Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2008, the winery became Napa Green Certified, as well as being a part of the Napa River Restoration Project.

• My tasting notes: Deep ruby in color. A cherry, herby nose, followed by a grippy (tannic) palate of cherry with vanilla and bell pepper notes. Long finish. Alcohol: 14.9%. Average price: $65.

These rich, intense California wines will pair dreamily with grilled steaks and chops. Smother them in mushrooms and gravy – heavenly! The spouse and I enjoyed them with lean bison meatballs in a (slightly) sweet and spicy tomato sauce and also with turkey burgers on sourdough bread loaded with pickles and thinly sliced red onions. The showstopper, though, was bittersweet dark chocolate and almonds. Yum!

I’ve got more #MerlotMe madness headed your way this month. For now, check out the blogs lined up for Wine Pairing Weekend:

• 2012 Ridge Estate Merlot + Reverse Sear Ribeye Steak by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
• Bonterra and Creamy Lasagna Soup by Our Good Life
• California Dreamin’ for #MerlotMe Month, Part I by My Full Wine Glass
• Celebrate #MerlotMe with a Wine that Hits the Mark by Supporting Veterans by Exploring the Wine Glass
• Experiments with Salmon and Merlot by Somm’s Table
• Ground Beef and Kale Recipe with #MerlotMe Wine by Cooking Chat
• I Melt for Merlot and Chocolate by What’s in That Bottle?
• Kicking off #MerlotMe with 2 Rutherford Hill Merlots and Decadent Burgers with Chocolate! by Crushed Grape Chronicles
• Merguez Sausages and a Debut #MerlotMe Wine from Gürbüz by The Quirky Cork
• Merlot with Chicken in a Mushroom Wine Sauce by Vino Travels
• #MerlotMe and Meaty Asian Sandwich by Chinese Food & Wine Pairings
• Mushroom Madness Paired with Merlot by Always Ravenous
• October Means #MerlotMe Paired With Instant Pot Bacon Mushroom Merlot Chicken by Wine Predator……..Gwendolyn Alley
• One of the Oldest Foods on Earth + 2019 Bonterra Organic Merlot by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Tri-Tip Steak and Duckhorn, a #MerlotMe Classic by Food Wine Click!
• Won’t You Please #MerlotMe? by A Day in the Life on the Farm