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Mainly for after dinner drinking. I was thinking of Kendall-Jackson 2001 Merlot but thought that would be somewhat lame. I am not a wine connosouir but will be hosting an honored gent who is.
Thanks.

2007-01-18 17:47:31 · 11 answers · asked by Kitiany 5 in Food & Drink Beer, Wine & Spirits

11 answers

Try the 2003 Sienna from Ferrari-Carano or their Tresor is also a very nice after dinner wine and I am very particular. Of the two, I REALLY like the Sienna and I just checked the website and it says the 2003 Sienna is sold out except in the 1.5L size. Check the website, I think you have to order direct to get it now, but it's worth it.

Here are the notes on the Tresor:

Ferrari-Carano presents its finest blend of the five classic Bordeaux varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot– from the best selections of all our vineyards in Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys. Aptly named “Trésor” for “treasure,” the grapes are grown exclusively from dryfarmed, low yielding vines primarily on our mountain vineyards. Intense, concentrated and dark ruby red in color, Trésor has layered aroma and flavor components, including black cherry and plum mingled with warm cedar, eucalyptus and the sweet toast of French oak. Despite its power, Trésor is an elegant and supple wine, showing ripe, smooth tannins and a long, fruit-dominated finish.

Vintage Notes

Our mountain vines are dry farmed in shallow, rocky, low-vigor soil that add impressive depth and concentration of flavor intensity to the wine. We took advantage of a unique growing season that was characterized by an early start, then a cool spring, followed by a “hurry up and wait” start to harvest. A mild October tested everyone’s patience, but conditions soon improved, and we finished harvest the end of the month.

Winemakers Notes

An outstanding vintage, the 2002 Trésor is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller amounts of Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Upon entering the winery, the grapes were destemmed and then whole berries were fermented in tank before pressing. Individual lots were moved to barrels for malolactic fermentation, then blended and barrel aged in new and older French oak for 24 months, allowing for the perfect balance of fruit, tannin, and oak.

Appellation: 93% Alexander Valley; 7% Dry Creek Valley

Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon; 13% Malbec; 10% Merlot; 3% Petit Verdot; 1% Cabernet Franc

Cooperage: 76% new French oak; 24% older French oak

Release Day: August 2006

and notes for the Sienna:

Our 2003 Siena reflects the Ferrari-Carano Italian heritage by combining the Italian grape, Sangiovese, with Sonoma County's finest grapes. Siena has unique aromas of strawberry and raspberry. We blend the Sangiovese with Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon to add support to the mouth-feel and body.

Vintage Notes

Great weather during bloom set the stage for yields to be at or above target levels. Due to the great crop levels, we were able to thin the fruit to assure maximum quality. Heat events in late August and early to mid-September jump-started harvest and required focus to assure that the winery received fruit at its optimum quality. Harvest began in late August and was completed the first week of October.

Winemakers Notes

Siena reflects the Ferrari-Carano Italian heritage by combining the Italian grape, Sangiovese, with Sonoma County’s finest grapes. The wine is aged in older French oak for 16 months to help accentuate the fruit flavor in the Sangiovese. Siena has unique aromas of strawberry and raspberry. We blend the Sangiovese with Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon to add support to the mouth feel and body.

Appellation: Sonoma County

Blend: 84% Sangiovese and small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon (73% Alexander Valley; 25% Dry Creek Valley; 2% Napa Valley)

Cooperage: 100% neutral French oak barrels

Release Day: July 2005



ENJOY!!!!

2007-01-18 18:01:13 · answer #1 · answered by hrh_gracee 5 · 2 1

Merlot is a good wine, but kind of pedestrian.
A more serious wine is an Italian Borolo. These are not cheap, and it is not a light wine, but it is so smooth that it is well worth it.
2000 and 2001 were the best vintages ever produced and the next few years look like they will suck.
Any decent wine store will have a couple of Borolos to choose from.

2007-01-19 01:11:22 · answer #2 · answered by Waldeck 3 · 0 0

I really don't think of a Merlot as an after dinner drink.

Ports and Cognacs are far more classic in that regard.

But if you are looking for a red wine that WILL IMPRESS your guest then I have some ideas but they might be hard to find.

An Australian Durif - related to shiraz - massive jammy berry fruit, but also very rare. Not impressive in France or California, the Durif grape has yielded spectacular results in Australia.

A Chilean Carmenere or Carmenere blend such as Primus. Once one of the great wine grapes of Europe, the Carmenere grape was wiped out by a blight 110 years ago and was thought extinct, but was "found" hiding in Chile mislabeled as Merlot.

A late harvest Romanian Merlot blend. A little sweeter and a LOT spicier than what you are used to, definitely unique.

And if he doesn't like your choice of wine I guess you'll have to skip straight to dessert ... wink** wink**

2007-01-18 22:03:00 · answer #3 · answered by David E 4 · 0 0

I have lived in Northern California near wine country all of my life, and while in college worked as a bookkeeper for many wineries.
My favorite red varietal is Cabernet Sauvignon, especially from the Alexander Valley on the Russian River - any year the rain fall total was less than normal - it makes a dustier Cabernet.
I never buy KJ wines, they're too big and impersonal. Ask at your dealer - try someone small and homey like Bynum or GeyserPeak.

2007-01-18 17:55:46 · answer #4 · answered by soxrcat 6 · 1 0

I personally love Kendall Jackson Merlot. In fact I'm drinking it right now! Have you ever had their Riesling! It's yummy! I love it anytime,but it's really great with desert! I know it's not a red wine,but it is really good!

2007-01-18 18:02:51 · answer #5 · answered by Mommy dearest 2 · 0 0

If you need something to offer after dinner, then it should be a French cognac or liquor. You can also serve sweet dessert wines. Try Commandaria sweet wine of Cyprus. My preference would be Keo Commandaria 1920. But it's hard to find. The latest vintages are also quite good. Serve with some hard cheese.

2007-01-18 20:44:49 · answer #6 · answered by anlarm 5 · 0 0

I'm a lover of big bold spicy reds. I've been drinking a lot of shiraz and syrah lately, since they're more likely to fit that category. Some pinot noirs will also work, but they're not guaranteed to be as spicy as I like. I tend to prefer Australian shirazs to American syrahs. In the summer, I tend to switch to a fruity white, such as sauvignon blancs from New Zealand. One sauvignon blanc that I've been able to consistently find is Giesen, and I've always been pleased with them.

2016-05-24 06:05:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I love good merlots, cabs, and especially pinot noir. But, if you are talking about something for after dinner or a dessert wine, I would go with a good port. Hennessy, perhaps.

2007-01-18 18:40:17 · answer #8 · answered by teatra 2 · 0 0

Any good Bordeaux 2000 does it for me. Apart from that Joseph Phelps 1996, Merlot is pretty darn good too.

2007-01-18 21:06:42 · answer #9 · answered by steve s 3 · 0 0

Well, it was Pinot Noir. But now, it's Chianti. And that's because my boyfriend brought it to the Halloween party. (before he was my boyfriend). Not just because of that, but also because it tastes really good. Not too strong, but not one of those nasty weak red wines either.

2007-01-18 17:55:50 · answer #10 · answered by Tiffany 2 · 1 1

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