Sunday Night – Holiday Weekend, Part 2

For the main course, I prepared sausage and peppers in a tomato and onion sauce with cheese and spinach ravioli. It has been awhile since I did a pasta so this made a nice change of pace.

I grabbed a bottle of 2003 Beringer’s Founders Estate Merlot to pair with the pasta. Here is some free advice… go buy 6 bottles of Beringer’s Founders Estate Merlot and 6 bottles of Beringer’s Founders Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, bring them home and tape the box closed with a sign that says do not open until 3 years from today’s date. This wine is sold too young, after three years this wine really gets much better. You will thank me in 3 years.

"Sorry Papa no pictures... 'cause Amy dove into the pasta without taking any food pictures first!"

The nose on the Merlot was good with cherry, plum, tobacco, leather and a hint of black pepper. The taste on the wine was dominated by a pleasing sour cherry flavor. The balance on the wine was nice with good tannin and acidity. I remember when I first tried this wine when it came out and found it very tannic, thanks to the time on the rack this was now gone as the tannins had softened. The wine was a decent pairing with the food.

Here is the group rating for the wine -Mick – 87, Mark – 89, Kathy – 87, Amy – 88, Overall – 87.75.

Here is the LCBO Information on the wine -

Beringer Founder’s Merlot

LCBO 534255
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 19.95
Wine, Red Wine,
13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : 1
Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Beringer Vineyards

Tasting Note - Ruby garnet colour; red berry aromas with light oak notes; dry, medium-bodied palate with fine tannins on the finishServing Suggestion - Beef stroganoff

Note – this isn’t the 2003 reviewed here and is probably a 2007 or 2008.

Click here for Part 3