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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/776571
www.cheersonline.com 36 • January/February 2017 red blend. Each component's vilifi ed separately, and then winemaker Kevin Hall adds zinfandel, grenache, mourvedre, cabernet and syrah to round out the blend. Lighter in style, very balanced, easy drinking, with concentrated fruit fl avors. Oak aging for 13 months ties the whole package together. This is a versatile wine for almost any food group, but fantastic with Texas barbeque. ($21.99) (91) Duckhorn 2013 (California). Founded in 1976, and one of the original cult merlot-producers. Winemaker Renee Ary uses estate fruit in conjunction with other top sites in the Napa valley to produce this state-of-the-art offering. Classic valley fruit enhanced with cabernet and cab franc is aged for 15 months in French oak. Warm, rich, full bodied. Pure velvet for beginning to end. ($57.99) (90) Boomtown 2013 (Washington). Medium bodied with lots of dark, lush fruit. Long fi nish and perfect with your favorite grilled meat. ($16.95) (90) Chateau Lyonnat Saint-Emilion 2010 (France). This beautifully produced Bordeaux is just bursting with deep, rich fl avors. Big, dark berry and licorice are the most prevalent. Tannins in this winehave mellowed with age. Wood and smoke mingle nicely on the fi nish. Drinking at its best now. ($20) (90) Joel Gott Merlot 2014 (California). Consistent quality with other Joel Gott wines. Hints of vanilla with balanced blackberry and dark chocolate. Soft, juicy fi nish. ($16) (90) La Croix Belle Merlot Cotes du Thongue 2014 (France). Quite seductive and a real surprise. Silky, ripe, smooth dark plums are framed by hints of spices and fresh tealeaves. The persistent, fresh, polished fi nish is where this really satisfi es. ($16 (90) Magana Navarra Merlot 2011 (Spain). A wine that's made only in the best vintages and just nine times since 1979. This exemplifi es the darker, denser expression of merlot, with caramelized cherries, smoke, rich loam and bay leaf. Somewhat gritty tannins should integrate with time. ($66.49) (90) Markham Merlot 2013 (California). A fruit bomb with hints of chocolate. While this wine starts out very juicy, the addition of cabernet sauvignon adds a very tannic dry fi nish. Overall, a great versatile wine to pair with steak, burgers or roasted chicken dishes. ($22) (90) 90+ Cellars Lot 92 (California). A merlot that's a good value for everyday sipping. Medium-bodied with hints of plum and cedar. It's a great match with mush- rooms! ($10) www.cheersonline.com 36 • January/February 2017 H HMGI Restaurant Group Charleston, SC Bill Netherland Wine Director Holiday Wine Cellar Escondido, CA Jim Kern Manager/Wine Buyer Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits Silvis, IL Kevin Miller Wine & Spirits Manager K&L Wine Merchants Redwood City, CA Bryan Brick Sales Consultant Legal Sea Foods Boston, MA Sandy Block VP, Beverage Operations Liquor Barn Louisville, KY Michael Sorg Wine Manager Liquor Boy St. Louis Park, MN Peter Herlofsky III Wine Manager Maggie Wine Consulting Poughkeepsie, NY Maggie Gephard President Mainstreet Wines & Spirits Countryside, IL Nancy J. Sabatini Director of Wine Education & Sales Malloy's Finest Wine & Spirits Naperville, IL Bruce Jaroski Wine Director Mills Fine Wine & Spirits Annapolis, MD Peter Finkelstein Wine Consultant North Ridge Wine Ellicott City, MD Brad Boarman Owner Prime Wines & Spirits Kenmore, NY Rick McLeod Wine Manager Premium Wine & Spirits Williamsville, NY Dave Cleveland General Manager Prestige Wine & Spirits Orchard Park, NY Jeff Vignaux General Manager Spec's Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods Houston, TX Hermen Key VP, Retail Development The Boerne Cork and Keg Boerne, TX Tom Geoghegan Owner The Liquor Store & Wine Loft Jackson Hole, WY Nate Mylott Manager/Buyer The Little Nell Aspen, CO Timothy Baldwin Director, Food and Bev. Total Wine & More Claymont, DE Cristina Pearce Senior Buyer Towne Spirits and Fine Wine/Elite Beverages Noblesville, Indianapolis, IN Arnie Lewin Wine & Spirits Director Trig's Cellar 70 Minocqua, WI Dennis J. Kohl Beverage Consultant Vino 100 Michael A. Schaefer, CWE Dir., Business Development Vino Loco Wine & Tapas Englewood, FL Joyce Colmar Managing Partner Willowbrook Spirit Shoppe Cromwell, CT Christopher Cambareri Owner The Wine Seller Ridgewood, NJ Don Carter Owner/Sommelier Yankee Discount Liquor East Haven, CT Deepak Pattani Owner Yankee Wine Newtown, CT Steve Small General Manager WINE PANEL The Cheers National Wine Panel is comprised of beverage experts from restaurants and wine shops around the country. CHEERS