More from my tasting at Brutocao. Today I will review their merlots.

2004 Reserve Merlot 25th Vintage -This is an exceptional wine. For those of you that look down your nose at merlots of not being worthy, you need to try this wine. It is not your typically light drinking wine. It is complex and especially clean. This wine would be a great pairing with a prime ribeye.

2005 Merlot Bliss Vineyard - This wine has black cherry fruit flavors that share the palate with rich loamy earth, creamy oak and spice.

2005 Merlot Mistelle Bliss Vineyard

This is a sweet dessert wine that expodes with flavor on the palate. Soft chocolate and cherry flavors generate a rose blush. Try pairing this with dark chocolate.

I just got back from wine tasting at Brutocao. The tasting room is located in Hopland, CA.  I must say  that their red wines are some of the finest wines I have ever tasted. In the next few days I will review about each one I tasted.

2006 Dolcetto, Feliz Vineyard

This is a dry, medium bodied and brightly fruited wine.  It is made to be approachable early with flavors of red licorice and ripe plum.

2005 Quadriga, Hopland Ranches

This wine is a blend of four estate Italian varietals; 35% Sangiovese, 31% Primitivo, 18% Barbara, 16% Dolcetto.  It gets it’s name Quadriga from the four wheeled charriot in Roman times. This wine explodes in the mouth. Try it with Italian food. This wine has won several awards: Double Gold at Tasters Guild Internation, Gold at San Francisco Chronicle, and Gold at the California State Fair.

These wines can be ordered at : wineclub@pacific.net

Riesling is one of my favorite wines. It is a very versatile wine that pairs easily with a variety of food. On these warm summer evenings I like to have a glass out of the patio before dinner.

There is a common misconception that all Rieslings are sweet. Actually Riesling come in a variety of sweetness. If you don’t like sweet wines, try the dry Rieslings. Most of the dry varietes come for France, Australia, and New Zealand.
In Canada, most of the Rieslings are ice wine. These can be very sweet. If you like sweet wine, you should try some of these wines.