It’s probably one of the most mispronounced words in wine lexicon. Meritage. It’s a coined phrase by an association of wine growers and is a combination of Merit and Heritage. It rhymes with Heritage. Don’t announce yourself the novice in your local wine shop by asking for a French accent twanged Meritahhhhhge. Bzzzt, thanks for playing our game but here endeth the lesson. I digress…
Dry Creek Vineyard has been a stalwart in Sonoma since Dave Stare founded the winery in 1972. Now under the helm of his daughter Kim, the winery continues to evolve while maintaining quality at every level. In wine, consistency should not be equated with boring. Consistency should be sought after and embraced. Yes, slight variations in vintage are unavoidable given the vagaries of weather, but talent and passion make up for that and the folks at Dry Creek have both.
The 2009 Dry Creek Meritage is the latest release of this classic Dry Creek Valley wine. This traditional blend of the five Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec is yet another excellent example of the Dry Creek style. It’s a gorgeous dark purple in the glass, with violet reflections out at the rim. The hallmark nose of the wine shines with classic Dry Creek Valley terroir: dusty tannins, minerals, wild berries, and flowers are notable.
In the mouth, the wine is medium to full bodied, with lovely layers of crushed wild berry, which are juicy, lively and concnetrated on the palate. Spicy, ripe dusty tannins, mineral notes and flowers add ample complexity. This is balanced and elegant and the elegance is critcally noted here, because to me it’s the hallmark of the Dry Creek wines. That elegance allows the wines to belong at the table and satisfies both lovers of Old and New World wines. Drink now or cellar for 5-10 years. 92 points and at about $18, buy it by the case. (I did)
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| ~ New label, same classic style ~ |
Bravo!
March 18, 2014
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