March 11, 2010

King Family Vineyards Meritage 2007

The Virginia wine industry may fly under the radar when it comes to national attention, but the commonwealth has many fine wineries. This particular wine was the Governor's Cup winner, the top prize, in the recent 2010 Virginia Wine Expo in Richmond. Earlier, it earned double gold in the 2009 Monticello Cup.

King Family Vineyards Meritage 2007

The deep garnet color arrests the eye. The first sip commands the taster's attention. The long, rich finish satisfies.

This blend is multi-layered, full fruited and bold. A blend of 56% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Malbec, it was aged in French oak for 18 months.

Thus, it has a very mixed heritage, a veritable melting pot of a wine. Immediate notes of plum, black cherry and raisins vie for dominance, but as it breathes additional toasty, smoky notes of clove and the wood emerge.

The silken, pleasingly clingy finish lingers just long enough to encourage another sip. A superb job by winemaker Matthieu Finot. Regretably, he and owner David King produced only 615 cases.

Suggested retail price: $25.95.

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