2020 Ehret Merlot – This wine Would Have Turned Miles Upside Down in Sideways!!
Background
Miles the character played by Paul Giamatti caused extraordinary damages to the Merlot wine market in the 2004 movie Sideways with his irrational distain of Merlot. While not the theme of the movie, Miles outright hatred of Merlot was a sub-theme while he and his friend were struggling to cope with their addictions, middle age and breaking out of their ordinary lives. The impact of the movie resulted in Merlot which had been 20% of California production dropping to 13%. By 2017, Pinot Noir production surpassed Merlot for the first time and hasn’t fallen behind since. More economic impact on the wine industry and details can be found in an article by Steven S. Cuellar, PhD from Sonoma State University’s Economic Dept.: https://winebusinessanalytics.com/sections/printout_article.cfm?content=61265&article=feature
The Winery
The Ehret Family Winery owners are Pierre and Susan Ehret with their three children Alex, Christian and Isabella. They established the vineyard and started producing grapes in 1996 at the Bavarian Lion Vineyards. It is one of the largest estates in Knights Valley consisting of 1800 acres of both hillside and valley floor terrain. Currently 500 acres are planted in vineyards allowing the balance to provide an ecosystem for plants and birdlife to dwell. From 1996 they sold their fruit to some of the more well-known wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma counties. In 2005, they selected the highest quality grapes and started their family brand, Ehret Family Winery. Today they produce various Cabernet Sauvignon’s, Red Blends, Zinfandel, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Their tasting room is located in Healdsburg at 422 Healdsburg Ave and appointments are required.
Map courtesy from Vintroux https://vineyardandwinerysales.com/
Knights Valley is located in Northern Sonoma County between Alexander Valley and over the Napa Valley border next to Calistoga.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
One of the key lines in the movie Sideways was from Miles stating “No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any #*&%-ing Merlot!” If Miles had tasted this wine, he would be a changed man! This wine on the eyes was dark and enticing, not a “plain Jane” Merlot coloring. Lush purple and lively on the eyes with medium to medium heavy viscosity. On the nose ripe plums and red cherries wafted into the olfactory senses. Once on the palate, a combination of the juicy plum but not sweet enliven the mouth. Also a beeswax coating surround the palate. On the finish gives a hint of vanilla and concludes with noticeable tannins in the back of the mouth and a chewiness note often found with Merlot. This is one strong Merlot to be reckoned with and with layers of enjoyment. This is one of four Merlot’s that I consider noteworthy to be in the cellar and aged.
No price is shown for the 2020 Ehret Merlot but the 2019 was listed at $65/bottle. The wine is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen to go with tonight’s dinner of a lightly browned on a skillet and then baked salsa chicken. Spices added before baking were garlic salt, cumin, chili powder and smoked paprika. Accompanied by yellow corn and fresh garden salad with bacon and Champagne dressing. The wine, having not tasted it before and thinking it might be a mellow Merlot (which it wasn’t) would go well rounding out the spices used on the chicken. Actually this Merlot would have been better suited for a ribeye steak or carne asada, as it possessed such a dynamic range and intensity of flavors.
This will make my list of Best Wines tasted in the year. As such, I will be stocking it in the cellar!
Sláinte,
Michael