Varietal:  66% Cabernet Franc; 26% Cabernet Sauvignon; 8% Merlot
Region:  Finger Lakes – Lake Cayuga – New York
Cost:  $25

Winemaker’s Notes:  An American version of a French Bordeaux blend with delicate tannins, oak accents, and a velvety smooth finish.

My Review:  Last week was my wife and my fourth anniversary (I got re-elected for four more years!), and while we went out for a fancy dinner on another night, the night of our actual anniversary we had dinner at home just the two of us. A pair of steaks and lobster tails on the grill, and some baked potatoes in the oven, made me delve into the wine I had brought back from the Finger Lakes, and I immediately reached for the 2010 Thirsty Owl Wine Company Meritage.

When I was tasting this wine at the winery I remember thinking how much I wanted a steak with it. It was everything I could have hoped for. Dark red fruits on the nose and in the mouth were a good compliment to the seasoning we used on the steak, and the soft finish helped keep the wine from completely overwhelming the lobster, which some bigger steak wines could have easily done.

The hint of bell pepper that I got during the tasting was still there, and while I know that some people don’t appreciate that, and that it can even indicate issues with the grapes, I for one am a fan of the flavor and liked how it blended with the fruit and oak notes of the wine.

What I really liked about this wine is that the soft finish of it made it really easy to sip on even without the food, making it a nice versatile wine, something I’m always on the lookout for. It’s a great value for a really good wine, especially if you want to pair it with a more robust dinner off the grill, and I definitely recommend giving it a try. If you’re in the Finger Lakes area visit Thirsty Owl and try their whole selection, but if you’re not and want to try anyways, they do sell their wines through their website at: http://www.thirstyowl.com

Tags: 2010 Thirsty Owl Wine Company Meritage, blended red wines, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, dark red fruit, finger lakes, Meritage, Merlot, new york wine, oak, Red Wine, red wine reviews, soft finish, wine, Wine Reviews