Full Review

Catman Cellars

Catman Cellars
2022 Petite Merlot Red Blend, Columbia Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Bordeaux Red Varietal Blend

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.6%
91 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$32

Catman Cellars
2022 Petite Merlot Red Blend, Columbia Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Bordeaux Red Varietal Blend

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.6%
Medium deep purple color. Aromas and flavors of 60% dark chocolate, plum and grape Kool-Aid, and cherry pipe tobacco with a round, vibrant, dry medium body and a refreshing, medium-length finish with notes of plums in dark chocolate sauce, violets, leather and chocolate coated herbs, and mocha with medium tannins. Like drinking the rich, deep hues of midnight purple; a delicious red that will repay time in the cellar, if you can resist drinking it now.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Crisp & Lively
Aroma Aroma: 60% dark chocolate, plum and grape Kool-Aid, and cherry pipe tobacco
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of plums in dark chocolate sauce, violets, leather and chocolate coated herbs, and mocha
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Pot Roast, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Like drinking the rich, deep hues of midnight purple; a delicious red that will repay time in the cellar, if you can resist drinking it now.

The Producer

Catman Cellars

The Producer
14764 SW 117th Place
Tigard, OR 97224
USA
1 503-201-6381

Bordeaux Red Varietal Blend

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
The greatness of red wines from France's Bordeaux region can be largely attributed to the art of blending. There are six red varieties that can be used in a Bordeaux red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere and Malbec (this last is rarely seen anymore in Bordeaux).

The reason for blending several grapes to craft the final wine is for greater complexity as well as elegance. Each grape has various characteristics and can attribute special qualities to the final wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and tannins, while Merlot has lighter tannins, while Cabernet Franc has a spicy, peppery quality to it. Blending these grapes together will round out all of these qualities; sort of a "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts" rationale.

This principal of blending is used in many regions besides Bordeaux, especially in California, were the blends are often given proprietary names, like Opus One, Insignia, and Quintessa. US blends of Bordeaux varietals may also be labeled, in addition to their proprietary name, by the designation of Meritage if they are approved and licensed by the Meritage Alliance.

Blending in Bordeaux is common not only on the prestigious wines from historic estates that cost hundreds of dollars per bottle, but also on the lighter-styled wines that are priced in the mid-teens. Aging potential can often be directly linked to the price of the wine, from three to five years to three to five decades.

Pair these wines with most red meats, games or roasts.