1997 Messina Hof Private Reserve

[hotwine]

This was a Christmas gift from our daughter's boyfriend and we honestly had little hope for it. It's made in Bryan, Texas, and we've just not had a lot of luck with home-grown wines. However, this one was a welcome surprise. We served it with stroganoff and broccoli, and it held its own very nicely - shades of a Blackstone CA, with blackberry and vanilla notes and a touch of spice (but a rather short finish). It has none of the big hairball characteristics of so many Merlots these days. Alcohol content is 13% and have no idea as to price, but suspect it's quite moderate. We'll look for it.

[Drew]

Hairballs????

ack..eh.....Drew

[hotwine]

Some of the nameless swampwater labeled Merlot these days is furry enough to make me want to shave my tongue after a tasting. I usually prefer that juice blended with something else, a la Bourdeaux-style, so if it can stand alone as a varietal, I'm impressed.

[cpurvis]

AMEN to the "nameless swampwater" assessment HW. Wouldn'ta thought of "hairballs", but have avoided most Calif. bred mer-lotsa-nothin' for sometime..if I want to chew on tree bark, then I don't need to spend $10+ to do it!