Benmarl Merlot 2008

There's no secret that one of my favorite wineries is Benmarl. Benmarl has made some wonderful wines over the course of the last few years. The improvement came when Kristop Brown and Matt Specarelli started making changes there three or more years ago. Though Kristop has moved on, the Specarelli family, especially Matt, has continued to see the wines improve.

A great example is the new Benmarl Merlot 2008. An austere, elegant, merlot, in the French tradition, it is loaded with cherries, raspberry, and a hint of dried cranberries, and a touch of barnyard. Beautiful fruit up front, balanced with just the right amount of acidity, and subtle tannins at the end. A smooth, licious finish.

We tasted the wine with a variety of cheeses at first, and then moved onto a luxurious plate of mixed grilled meats. The wine paired nicely with both. We tasted it against some Harpersfield cheddar and against some Old Chatham Sheepherding Camambert both paired with small rounds from a freshinly cut baguette.

But the wine showed even better against the mixed grilled meats, dripping with hot juices and sizzling with crisp, crunchy charred marks. The wine was an incredble accompaniment to this dish.

Another wonderful wine from Benmarl.