This wine is $5.99. Problem is it tastes like it's $5.99. Too strong and boozy. Pass on this one.
Echelon Merlot Central Coast 2008
Chairman's SelectionTM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32317
Size: 750ML
Price: $5.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com: (Avg $9, Min $8, Max $12)
Availability in Pennsylvania:
| Region: | USA > California > Central Coast |
| Grape Varieties: | Merlot 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% |
| Alcohol Content: | 13.8% |
We liked Hogue Genesis Cabernet, but the Hogue Genesis Merlot is a big disappointment. Not so much jammy as jam-ified, this is overoaked and out-of-balance. There are a variety of confused tastes here, none of them good, and none of them taste like Merlot should.
Hogue Merlot Genesis Columbia Valley 2006
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 32072
Size: 750ML
Price: $8.99
We really liked beef tenderloin last time we made it, but once again we had no merlot in the house.
Is it possible to find good merlot in the PLCB system on short notice? Yes, but it takes a bit of luck. We went to PAWineTalk--Wines--Wines Sorted By Variety and clicked on merlot. We found Chateau Plince Pomerol, with some available at 12th and Chestnut and at Garces Trading Company. We made it to 12th and Chestnut, found the wine, but it was so warm in the store that the bottles were warm to the touch, and that scares us. We went over to Garces Trading Company at 11th and Locust, went into the climate controlled specialty wine shop, and got there just in time to grab the last bottle.
The Plince Pomerol was more than we usually spend, but the price matched the spendy cut of tenderloin we had from Giunta's Prime Meats in Reading Terminal Market. The wine did not disappoint. Plummy flavors on the nose, fresh tasting dark fruit, earthy woodsy notes and a long finish paired perfectly with the tenderloin and parsnips.
We were delighted to find that not only is the recipe for the tenderloin and parsnips delicious, but it comes from Cooking Light, meaning that the fat content is not too bad. See for yourself: Beef Tenderloin with Parsnip-Mushroom Ragout.
This recipe and wine pairing would be good for a special occasion, so keep your eyes open for left bank bordeaux and stock up when it's available.
If you want to try this one, as of now there are about 50 units available at Store 4602 in Ardmore.
Chateau Plince Pomerol 2006
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 13109
Size: 750ML
Price: $29.99
Region: France > Bordeaux > Libournais > Pomerol
Grape Varieties: Merlot 72%
Cabernet Franc 23%
Cabernet Sauvignon 5%
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
We had this wine in October and urged people to run out and buy it for $5.99. If you did so, we now urge you to drink it. You may find yourself as captivated by its deceptive charms as we were again last night.
If you drink it immediately upon opening without food you may make a face and want to pour it down the sink. Don't. Give it some time and drink it with dinner. For us, what seemed to be flaws now came into balance and gave way to intriguing notes that we were powerless to resist.
By dessert we found this French Bordeaux had somehow matched itself up with the reggae group Toots and the Maytals. Upon reflection, maybe this isn't so surpising: they are both rough around the edges, a little funky, and have a whole lot of soul.
This wine is sold out.
Christian Moueix Merlot Encore Bordeaux 2005
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 12869
Size: 750ML
Price: $5.99
Stop what you are doing, go down to 2429 South Street, and buy some of this wine. It is a fantastic deal at $5.99. Although panned on CellarTracker, we let this air out for about 2 hours and got dark cherry on the nose and smooth round tannins on the palate. It has an almost creamy mouthfeel. We've had Bordeaux that was more expensive but not nearly as good.
The Moueix family is responsible for the famous Chateau Petrus in Pomerol and this style of Merlot. Although Merlot was denigrated in the movie Sideways, it was a 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc that Miles ironically winds up drinking in the end, which contains a large percentage of Merlot.
Love this wine, and if we weren't out of of storage space we'd be buying more.
Christian Moueix Merlot Encore Bordeaux 2005
Chairman's Selection
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 12869
Size: 750ML
Price: $5.99
PAWineTalk
CellarTracker
WineSearcher $10-$17
Wine Spectator 86
