Forgive me, but if Jesus turned water into wine, I'm thinking he may have produced a really good second label like Tangley Oaks Lot 7 Merlot (2003) from Rutherford Hill. After all, Jesus was making wine for a large group (a marriage), he didn't have a lot of cash in hand, and who did he need to impress with a fancy first label? And as everyone down south knows, Jesus saves. Seriously, here is a great example of how to get a gorgeous quaffable for minutiae of crowns.
Tangley Oaks is the name of the gracious English manor home originally built for the meat packing Armour family 90 years ago. The Terlato family owns it now and it is the centerpiece of the family's Rutherford Hill Wine Estate. The same name appears on this Merlot that costs some $10 less than the winery's first label juice of very similar quality.
Outstanding value ($15). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 14.2%.
Style: Fruit forward, moderate oak spice, some complexity, polished tannins.
Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep ruby. Aromas: Nice sweet oak spice overlays cherry berry lushness and hints of expresso and tea. The ripe fruit is round and bountiful, well balanced with the oak and tartness, and the tannins are smooth and polished. The finish begs another sip.
Comment: Think of it as an awesome glass of Napa rather than a glass of Merlot and you'll see the true value inherent in the bottle. "Lord Jesus this is good!".
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Please let me know if you have a Wine Agent or Distributor here in Toronto, Ontario Canada
Posted by: Ross Schofield | August 27, 2008 at 04:05 PM