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Mid-Price
Domestic
Red Wines
About This Wine
“Every choice you make has an end result.”
Author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said that. Much earlier, Aristotle had this to say about choice: “Excellence is a state concerned with choice.” At Olivia’s Choice, those observations go into every bottle of wine.
The first, and perhaps most important, choice involves sourcing the grapes for each cuvee. For the 2011 Merlot, a number of California’s top appellations were selected. The second choice involves the varieties selected, and in this case, Merlot was joined by a handful of other red varieties, each selected for a specific quality to enhance the final cuvee.
Other choices were made in aging vessels, with oak barrels used for some of the juice, and stainless steel tanks for other lots. And when all was said and done, the various choices added up to a sublime bottle of wine. It’s a methodology that has been working beautifully for Olivia’s Choice for many years.
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 MerlotTasting Notes
Download/Print- Grape Composition:Merlot and Other Red Varieties
- Grape Source:Select Vineyards in Various California Growing Regions
- Aromas & Flavors:Crushed Red Berries, Black Olive, Cassis and Tobacco
- Aging Vessels:Oak Barrels and Stainless Steel Tanks
- When to Drink:Now Through 2014
- Food Pairing Suggestionshepherd’s pie, or pasta with mild sausages.
Member Ratings
Have you tried it?Rate This Wine11 Reviews
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Delicious wine. Went well with Kielbasa and cabbage.
Good strength in its taste, no overbearing sweetness. The color wias a very bright, translucent purple with the light rays easily passing through it as it sat in the glass.
Kiss Kiss More more more
i had wanted to write a private note about several wines. i enjoy wine very much and my wife bought me a very kind gift to your wine club. i do not enjoy writing anything negative because i am sure that your wines are excellent and that you take great pride in them. i have received 2 different shipments thus far and both of them were disappointing. in the shipments i have received 2 different merlots. i found them very light and lacking in full flavor. i humbly say that i found them lacking and disappointing. i have also received 2 different cabernet sauvignons, one from hill haven vineyards. many people find cabernets bitter and/or dry. however i enjoy cabernets. however BOTH of the cabernets have had a light body and i have been again, disappointed. i love garnacha and the 2010 rey sol carinena was very good. in the last shipment i received a california red zinfandel. i have had the ravenswood zinfandel in the past (on a cruise and then i have bought several bottles at our local wine shoppe)...and i have loved the ravenswood zinfandel. so, i was truly looking forward to the zinfandel i received in my first shipment and was looking forward to a full-bodied flavor. and again, i was disappointed. it had a medium body (at best) and was not nearly as flavorful as the ravenswood i had tried. i truly am sorry to write these reviews.....i loved the gift my wife purchased....and i appreciate your club---i truly do. however, i know you desire honesty and honestly i have been generally very disappointed. i am sorry to write these words...it hurts me to do it.
It's a good wine to be paired with beef no doubt, but it is still a bit dry for my taste. It has a good body to it and is a lot better chilled.
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A very nice Merlot.
Medium -bodied, clean taste, pretty good for Merlot, that I don't normally like. This Merlot is good quality, I and my friends like it!
Taste nicely... drink with cucumber salad tasting so good.
Recipes
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Boneless Leg Of Lamb This recipe, developed by the late James Beard, matches beautifully with Shiraz (a.k.a. Syrah), Shiraz/Cabernet blends and Merlot. It serves 6-8... Get The Recipe
French Lamb Shank Stew With White Beans This recipe, from "The Mauna Loa Macadamia Cooking Treasury," matches wonderfully with Malbec, Merlot Sangiovese or Rhone red blends. It serves 6... Get The Recipe
Pork Tenderloin With Tart Cherry Port And Caraway Sauce This delicious recipe from Sonoma County's J. Fritz Winery matches beautifully with almost any red wine. It makes 4 to 6 servings. Get The Recipe
Cabernet Sauvignon Ice Cream Our friends at Alexander Valley Vineyards came up with this wonderful recipe a few years ago. We've tried it with Cabernet Sauvignon (as the recipe calls for), as well as Merlot, Primitivo, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel... and every time, it turns out delicious! It's best made with an ice cream maker, and if you have such a machine, it's extremely easy to assemble. Enjoy! Get The Recipe
Duck Breast With Red Wine Risotto This recipe calls for a good quality red wine, and we suggest either Pinot Noir or Merlot. Whichever you choose, we also suggest serving that wine with the meal. This recipe makes 4 servings. Get The Recipe -
Tuscan Style Roasted Game Hens If you're looking for a change from turkey or ham this holiday season, try this easy-to-prepare dish that matches well with both white and red wines. It serves 6... Get The Recipe
Smoked Salmon Penne Pasta In a world of "anything goes" food-and-wine pairing, we're always on the lookout for recipes that match well with either white or red wines. This is one such recipe, and it makes two servings... Get The Recipe
Lemony Lamb Chops Here's a versatile dish that matches well with red Bordeaux or Merlot, yet also can be enjoyed with white wines because of its lemon-flavored sauce. It makes 4 servings... Get The Recipe
Pork Chops With Blueberry Sauce This recipe makes 4 servings, and matches wonderfully with Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Merlot and red blends... Get The Recipe
Slow Cooking Stew A flavorful wine such as Malbec or Merlot calls for a flavorful main dish. This tasty recipe fits the bill deliciously, and makes about 6 servings. And now that the kids are back in school, be aware that it's a meal you... Get The Recipe -
Pan Fried Lamb Chops This recipe, which makes 4 servings, features flavors that can be enjoyed with virtually any red wine. Turn it into a complete meal with a side dish jasmine rice. Get The Recipe
Garlic Grilled Chicken The following recipe, which serves 4, transforms a classic white wine dish -chicken - into a perfect partner for red wines such as Merlot and Syrah. The secret? The generous use of garlic. Get The Recipe
Mustard Crusted Rack Of Lamb Try this tasty recipe, which serves 4 or more, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or a red blend containing any of the aforementioned varieties... Get The Recipe
Portuguese Style Roasted Pork Rare is the recipe that matches equally well with red wines and white wines. This is such a recipe. We came across it while doing research on the wines that will be included in an upcoming club shipment from The World of Wines -featuring the wines of Portugal. The recipe makes 6 servings. And if you'd like to learn more about The World of Wine, click on the Get The Recipe
