Full Review

Narmada Winery

Narmada Winery
2017 Mélange Red Blend, Virginia

Pair this wine with:
Beef Lamb Vegetables

Category: Bordeaux Red Varietal Blend

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.6%
89 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$40

Narmada Winery
2017 Mélange Red Blend, Virginia

Pair this wine with:
Beef Lamb Vegetables

Category: Bordeaux Red Varietal Blend

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.6%
Dark black ruby color. Funky aromas and flavors of forest berries, strawberry preserves, cola, espresso beans, barnyard, potpouri, and nut-studded nougat in white chocolate with a velvety, crisp, fruity medium body and a sleek, complex, long finish with well-integrated, silky tannins and moderate oak flavor. A funky-but-refined Virginia red that will pair well with rich holiday meals.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Funky, Oaky, Rich & Full, Spicy & Complex & Savory
Aroma Aroma: forest berries, strawberry preserves, cola, espresso beans, barnyard, potpouri, and nut-studded nougat in white chocolate
Taste Flavor: forest berries, strawberry preserves, cola, espresso beans, barnyard, potpouri, and nut-studded nougat in white chocolate
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Prime Rib, Rack of Baby Lamb, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A funky-but-refined Virginia red that will pair well with rich holiday meals.

The Producer

Narmada Winery

The Producer
43 Narmada Ln
Amissville, VA 20106
USA
1 540-937-8215

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 five red varieties that can be used in a Bordeaux red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot 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.