Mile High's Wine of the Week: September 25th
Canoe Ridge "The Expedition" Merlot 2012
Regular Price:
$15.99
Sale Price:
$11.99
Sale End:
9/28/2014
The noble grape, Merlot, has been much maligned in recent years. And some of that criticism was justified for sure. But this week we have a ridiculous deal on a Washington State Merlot that is simply beyond reproach. Dense, juicy, polished, and bursting with character, the 2012 Canoe Ridge Vineyard “The Expedition” Merlot is what Merlot should be. As soon as you pour a glass you’ll notice the deep crimson rim and nearly black core that Merlot is so prized for. Have a quick sniff and let the aromas of dark chocolate, graham crackers crumbs, freshly pitted cherries, and sweet vanilla lure you in for a sip. As good as the nose is, and boy is it good, the palate is where “The Expedition” really shines. The entry is creamy and seductive with appealing flavors of warm blackberry pie filling and creamy cocoa. The finish is smooth and rounded with a hint of allspice and just a kiss of ripe tannin. If you love good red wine then you will totally enjoy this bottle. It is more interesting and more complete than you have any right to expect for a wine at such a modest price.
On to the Tasting Notes:
Some of the world’s most famous and expensive wines are made from Merlot. So it always surprises me a bit when someone says, in a disdainful tone, that they do not drink Merlot. Either way, this week we found a delicious bottle of Merlot from one of our favorite Washington State properties, Canoe Ridge Vineyard. It is generous and appealing on the nose and the palate. As soon as I pulled the cork earlier today the nose began to pop. It gave up dark and alluring scents of bittersweet cocoa, sundried berries, graham crackers, and vanilla. It was the sort of nose that could best be described as comforting. Sometimes you want exotic scents and tastes in you wine and then there are other times when you just want it to be good. The Expedition Merlot is for when you you just want it to be good! But I digress… The palate was silky at first. It had an abundance of creamy black cherry and plum that came through on the entry. Then as it sat a bit longer I got ripe blueberry and cassis as well as a hint of violet. It finished with great density and there were no sharp edges at all. It was so easy to enjoy. If I bought every bottle of wine that I loved I think my wife would kick me out of the house, but I can assure you that, because this Merlot is so darn good, I’m going to be grabbing the better part of a case to add to my stockpile of wine in the basement.
Food Pairing:
Grab a burger and a glass for this delicious Merlot. Or go big and pair it with a steak if you’re feeling so inclined. I think you will be really pleased with The Expedition’s quality and versatility.
You MUST mention this special or print it out to receive the price on the above wine.
This price expires 9/28/2014 at 6pm and is limited to in-store quantities.
No rain checks given. Call (303) 936-0272 to reserve bottles with a credit card.