IN THE BOTTLE 

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot, mostly sourced from California's Mendocino County. Directly north of Sonoma, Mendocino is cooler than Napa, ensuring balanced, bold fruit flavors. Notes of blackberry and black currant with aromas from oak barrel aging: vanilla, baking spice, and dark chocolate. 

CLASSIC FLAVOR PROFILES OF VARIETAL 

Meritage wines are typically full-bodied and complex, with elevated tannins and acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon adds flavors of black fruits, such as blackberry and cassis. Merlot adds a velvety smoothness, Cabernet Franc contributes some green herbaceous notes, while Malbec adds an exotic floral aroma in the background. 

VARIETAL FACTS 

The term Meritage is a combination of the words merit and heritage created by winemakers in California to market their Bordeaux based blends. Both white or red Meritages are made, and the rules for each are essentially the same: the wine must be a blend of two or more varieties, and no more than 90% of the blend can come from a single variety. To qualify as a red Meritage, the wine must blend together two or more red Bordeaux grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère. For a white Meritage, the blend must include two or more white Bordeaux grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle. 

HISTORY 

In 1988, a group of California winemakers formed The Meritage Association (now The Meritage Alliance) to promote wines blended from the traditional Bordeaux varieties. There are nearly 400 members of The Meritage Alliance making wines across the world including countries like Argentina, Israel, and Mexico. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

Immigrants started farming grapes in Mendocino in the 1850s. Many of them were former farmers who failed to strike gold in California's Gold Rush and decided to fall back on their farming know-how and by growing grapes. 

IF YOU LIKE THIS WINE, TRY: 

Lux Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, any full-bodied red Wines of the Month 

Standard Bottle 750 ml

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