A Sonoma Surprise
We uncorked the 2014 St. Francis Reserve Merlot on Mardi Gras. Green Dragon likes to host parties and enjoys cooking up Cajun-style food. Cajun food is known for including just about everything but the kitchen sink in the boiling pot. So I was pleased to see that the Merlot also included a surprise ingredient.
The St. Francis Reserve is 77% Merlot, 19% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Malbec elevates this reserve wine above your typical Merlot. The resulting wine has exquisite flavors of blackberry and currant with a dollop of vanilla.
Handcraftery!
Aging is for 20 months in French oak, about half of it new barrels. The wine also undergoes malolactic fermentation, which accounts in part for the beauteous full and rich body.
The wine retails for about $40 and pairs well with lamb or pork dishes. We can report that it pairs very well with jambalaya and red beans and rice too!
The 2014 St. Francis Reserve Merlot is highly recommended for those who want to drench themselves in a flavorful wine experience.
Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.
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