Blackstone '97 Merlot

[hotwine]

Enjoyed this one last night with grilled sirloins & veggies. We're not big merlot fans, usually finding them too big and furry for our taste; but this one had good forward fruit, subdued tannins and only a moderate oakiness. We had been talked into trying it by a waiter at a restaurant a few weeks ago, and liked it enough to lay down a few bottles in the cellar. At $9.99, it's a bargain.
The super-lean steaks were from a grass-fed yearling Charolais steer, and cut only an inch thick. I dusted 'em with a dry rub and grilled 'em over an oak fire. The veggies included sliced zucchini, mushrooms and onions, drizzled liberally with olive oil, and grilled over the dying coals, so they were still crunchy.
Simple fare, but delightful, and the merlot was right on target.