Alert: Very Limited. Will sell out. We purchased every last bottle that the winery had on hand, and once we sell out, this wine will be gone forever.

Rejoice! Rejoice! After a nearly 5 year absence, Estancia Estates is back! We had to fight to get our hands on today’s Estancia Estates 2014 Reserve Meritage - and you, dear Operative, are the beneficiary. This is a classic Bordeaux varietal blend, made in the California style, from rich Paso Robles fruit.

Well constructed by sight, with a deep density, rich garnet coloration with ruby-red at the meniscus. It boasts a clean, fresh nose with aromas of potpourri, dried roses, black currant, cigar box, and fresh fig. The palate offers classic Bordeaux-style blend notes of plum compote, leather, preserved pear, pomegranate, and black cherry. Nicely balanced with some weight to it and grippier tannin that makes it an excellent choice to be served with dinner. Beef brisket or pot roast is the top choice for an impressive wine such as this.

Paso Robles has long been established as a wine producing region that gives other California regions a run for their money. With a climate and soils that make for perfect growing conditions for grapes, it is no wonder. Winemakers in Paso are a somewhat unique breed, often declaring themselves to be the renegades of California wine.

A Meritage (pronounced like ‘heritage’, with no French accent) wine is a blend which is made in the tradition of the great wines of Bordeaux can only carry the name if the winery is a member of *The Meritage Association* based in Sonoma County. Most wines made in the US are varietal wines, comprised of over 75% of a single varietal. Unfortunately, this labeling requirement is believed to impair many winemakers from making exceptional blends, since they are often labeled as simply *Red Table Wine* with the noble grapes of Bordeaux. Thus in 1988 *Meritage* was born as a way to highlight the winemaker’s art of careful blending and crafting of wines in the tradition of some of Europe’s finest wines.

Enjoy!!