$10 Meritage

[Thomas]

Geez, Brom, you can't read the word "relatively."

Yes, I know that simple Bordeaux has no rules other than the varieties that go into the wine, and I know that the word "meritage" was intended to emulate Bordeaux. I just don't know what the word proves, especially when you can buy a $10 or a $100 "meritage" from any one of the producers willing to pay to use the name. Have you ever seen a classified Bordeaux at $10? There is in fact a delineation in Bordeaux.

Well, yes, the label tells you where the wine is from, but the word "meritage" tells us nothing about the character of the wine, especially when the blends can be as widely varied as "meritage" rules allow. Plus,
have you ever heard of the TTB contiguous rule? If grapes come from two or more contiguous growing regions that cross state lines, the name of the AVA that represents the higher percentage of the blend can be used on the label.

Label-reading is a form of investigative journalism! Adding a word for PR purposes doesn't help.