New Wine Lover Here

[Innkeeper]

Hi Greyraptor, and welcome to the Wine Board. The Octagon is a proprietary wine based on what are know as East Bank Bordeaux. These are blends with Merlot forward although Cabernet Franc can occur in almost equal quantities. All the info on your Octagon indicates that it consists of Merlot and "others." What others we can only guess. I think Cab Franc would be one good guess. The others could be anything.

There is a nationwide group known as the American Meritage Association. They require a Meritage blend to be of strictly Bordeaux grapes which include those mentioned as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and one or two others for a red wine.

Whether or not your wine qualified as an American Meritage or not is unknown. It might qualifiy and they chose not to use the term, or they may be using some completely different grapes. You might call or email them and ask.

If they recommend a hold to 2010 I would do it. Be sure it is in a cool, humid place.

Please peruse our Spanish thread for many good ideas for wines to try in at many price points from under $10 to the sky.