2016 Meritage Wattle Creek Winery

A Meritage vs. a blend: Consuming this ’16 California Meritage was a good experience. Finding good experiences makes life the more pleasurable. And I enjoyed five pleasureful glasses from this bottle. A Meritage is supposed to be a step up above regional blends. The grapes used in a Meritage must be a narrow choice among big-bang varietals. The maximum number is three with the fewest mix of two. Most wines are blends. Most wine buyers chose a blend. Winemakers use blends to “design” their product. I.e. Five huge wineries sell more than half of all wines consumed in the U.S. In a blend, less expensive grapes make its base. Then, a select varietal gets blended in, such as Merlot, Syrah, or Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition, there are five dozen other additives available in “designing” wines. There is an obvious reason blends are less expensive than estate, library level, or elite wines. As noted, this Meritage wasn’t a disappointment. It was fruity, slightly spicy, smooth with full body, and a cedar tannin finish. It gave off a floral nose; there were strong legs; in-the-glass color is a dark garnet. Plus, it was bottled with a real cork. If you want to keep this in your cellar a few years, then do it. Pairing this with pepperoni pizza is O.K.