There are times when the warm-climate varietal Merlot just hits the spot. Today was such a day.
$15.95 at Vintages. High-quality, solid natural-cork closure. 14% alc./vol.
Medium ruby; clear with a garnet hue. Very true-to-variety nose: dusty violets and plummy fruit with strawberry accents in the background. Pleasantly ethereal. Powerful entry showing good balance, moderate acidity, grippy tannin and a good deal of alcoholic warmth. Dusty/grainy texture on the fore- and mid-palate. Fleshy, grainy, dusty texture with some sweetness, oak spice and a warm, expansive finish. A hint of bitterness too.
This went quite well with pork sosaties and herbed meat balls, though on more than one sip I kept thinking that beef would have been a closer match.