This is a huge, exuberant bottle of wine. Elderberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, hickory smoke, and black cherries are restrained, but just barely, by tobacco from the Cabernet Franc. Tannins are sweet and the finish is long. This is a real mouth-coater. It would match well with a big steak, or have it as a meal by itself.
WHO Rodney Strong
WHAT Meritage Bordeaux Blend (73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec)
WHERE California, Alexander Valley
WHEN 2006
HOW MUCH $69 (this was a free media sample)
