2011 El Tiburon Cellars California Merlot

About This Wine

If we can drink red wine with fish, can we also drink it with chicken?

The answer is absolutely — if the chicken is charbroiled, and if the wine is the 2011 Merlot from El Tiburon Cellars. Food and wine pairing is not always about the primary dish. It’s also about how that dish is prepared.

Take pasta, for instance. Alone, pasta has virtually no flavor; it’s brought to life by sauces, herbs and other “flavorings.” So, you could eat pasta with white wine (assuming it has a white, cream-based sauce) or with red wine (assuming it has a tomato- or meat-based sauce). The same thinking applies to chicken.

Normally, you’d want to eat chicken with a white wine such as Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc. But when you grill chicken, and it picks up that “char” quality, Merlot becomes a pairing possibility. And in the case of El Tiburon Merlot, it’s a very delicious possibility.

About Merlot

Similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but with less tannin and fruit. Delivers earlier maturing wines. Often blended with Cabernet; on its own may soften with age, though fruit flavors may fade.

More About Merlot

Tasting Notes

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• Grape Composition:Merlot and Other Red Varieties
• Grape Source:Select Vineyards in Various California Growing Regions
• Aromas & Flavors:Violets, Black Cherry, Plum, Bay Leaf and Coconut
• Aging Vessels:Assorted Oak Barrels
• When to Drink:Now Through 2014
• Food Pairing Suggestiongrilled chicken, or mushroom pizza.

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