2016 Eternal Wines Merlot Gratitude Columbia Valley
Dark and inky. Serious merlot characteristics of sweet blackberry, blueberry, mocha and spice with elegant yet firm tannins and plenty of lively acidity. No evident oak. Very well made--this is fine wine not barfly stuff, and would change the minds of most merlot haters. Should cellar and evolve for ten years at least. Loved it.
2015 Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery Gravel Bed Red Sonoma Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
So once upon a time when I and all my friends bought jug wines, I thought of as the afficianado of the group because I favored Sebastiani and Mondavi. So life really has come full circle when I'm taking Sebastiani seriously. This high $20's Bordeaux blend has a unique personality, virtually oak free, fresh, juicy and fun with (of course) lots of minerality, but putting on some interesting weight now in all the right places. Not going to last forever and you don't want it to--drink this one early to remind yourself of what wine tasted like before you started taking it so seriously.