...a bottle of wine and thou

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A glass of red wine a day is an expensive prescription - more than most pills. In order to keep daily table wine affordable, I am on a quest to discover the best $10 wines. I'm blogging my reviews so I won't stare blankly at bottles in the store, wondering if this is the one I loved or the one I loathed.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Vampire Merlot

Price: $14
Type: Merlot
Cork: attractive red artificial
Rating: 8
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

I bought this wine as a joke present for a pair of Goth friends. They invited us over to sample it, again as a sort of horrific joke. To our mutual surprise, it's a surprisingly drinkable wine, especially for the price.

In fact, I liked it so much I not only replaced their bottle, but picked up a couple for myself the next time I visited Jungle Jim's. The label is very eye catching. After all, who wouldn't be tempted by "Vampire" wine made in Transylvania? Okay, people with taste. Those of us with a sense of humor want a bottle just for display.

I suspect most Merlot drinkers would disagree with my 8 rating. My problem with Merlot is I don't like a heavy oak taste in my wine. While Vampire Merlot is allegedly aged in American Oak for six months, it somehow doesn't have that overwhelmingly oaky flavor that makes me turn my nose at most Merlot. In this case, I can taste the grapes, which are mellow and smooth. The wine has a mild nose to go with the mellow flavor.

If you like the taste of a usual Merlot, you'll hate this wine. If you dislike Merlot, give this bottle a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

posted by Chris Rachael Oseland at 5:05 AM

3 comment(s):

  • I agree on this one, it's surprisingly good for a wine with a kitschy label. Where's Jungle Jim's at? Good shop? We mostly go to the Wine Market on Bardstown, 'cause we're a bottle-a-day couple and we also search out those lovely $10 finds. Trentadue Old Patch Red Zin is great.

    By Blogger liraelwiddershins, at 11:55 AM  

  • Thanks for the suggestion. We'll have to check that one out.

    Jungle Jim's is sadly north of Cincinnati, about 2 hours drive from Louisville. Their website is: www.junglejims.com

    If you're a foodie, you've got to check it out. It's an amazing place (enough so it's been written up in The Smithsonian Magazine.)

    By Blogger Chris Rachael Oseland, at 11:20 PM  

  • This past weekend my fiance and I drank a bottle while watching Van Helsing. Great movie and wine.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:32 PM  

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