This October not only marks the beginning of Merlot Month, created in response to the film “Sideways,” but in addition the twentieth anniversary of that film.
To commemorate the flood of truly mediocre Pinot Noir that has hit the market since then, and the utter destruction of among the finest grapes around, film critic Kirk Honeycutt and wine journalist Mira Advani Honeycutt have written a book.
Sideways Uncorked: The Perfect Pairing of Film and Wine purports to capture the dirt behind among the film's scenes and delve into the impact it had on society and wine consumption typically. Although the official release date is November fifth, the book could be pre-ordered at https://www.searchlightpictures.com/sideways
After the discharge of Sideways, Merlot was ripped out or grafted onto Pinot Noir at a breakneck pace, while recent Pinot Noir plantings popped up in suboptimal locations. Wineries that made single-variety Merlot began hiding it in cleverly named blends. People drank Cabernet and thought it was lovely to drink Cabernet, when in lots of cases Merlot was the actual shining star. If you follow him, he can lead you to interesting places to find.
According to Napa Valley-based Markham Vineyards, a Merlot specialist for greater than 4 many years, the grape never really went out of fashion. As a tribute to the twentieth anniversary of “Sideways,” they’ve released a special “Right Side” mix from award-winning winemaker Kimberlee Nicholls, who has been making her wine for over 30 years. Inspired by the 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc coveted by the film's protagonist, Miles, it goes on sale this month for $85.
They even have a brand recent experience within the Markham St. Helena tasting room called “The Right Side of Merlot: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Sideways.” This limited-time experience offers guests the chance to taste the Markham estate's best Merlots side by side and discover how climate, soil and elevation create magic in every bottle. Their vineyards stretch from Calistoga to Oak Knoll, and you’ll be able to really taste the differences between them.
Locally, within the Santa Cruz Mountains area (SCM), you will discover some beautiful and proudly labeled Merlots from Alamitos Vineyards (from Stag's Leap, Napa), Asiduous Vineyards (Kells Vineyard, SCM) and Bargetto Winery (Regan Vineyard, SCM) enjoy. , Big Basin Vineyards (Coastview, Monterey), House Family Vineyards Estate (SCM), Lexington Winery (Gist Vineyard, SCM), Perrucci Family Vineyards (Regan Vineyard, SCM), Ridge and Tessier Winery (Zayante Vineyard, SCM).
Kudos to the newly released 2019 Big Basin Vineyards Merlot from Coastview within the Gabilan Highlands at 2,292 feet. It is 100% Merlot and an exceptional interpretation of this variety, which will likely be grown in lowlands but reveals all its elegance at higher altitudes. Nestled in decomposed granite and limestone, it's the identical Merlot that winemaker Bradley Brown has been incorporating into his highly rated Altitude Bordeaux-style mix since 2015.
It's ironic to finish with Pinot Noir, but here's one with a very good cause. Mount Eden has just announced the third bottling of its Tanaka Project Pinot Noir, a wine dedicated to the love, talent and dedication of a pricey friend who took his own life in 2007: Ron Tanaka, an artist and poet who was a part of the In 1983, Patterson wrote a mountain-inspired collection called The Mount Eden Poems. For the past three years, on World Suicide Prevention Day, the Pattersons have released about three barrels value of commemorative wine from a vineyard on the winery named in Tanaka's honor.
The 2021 Tanaka Project Pinot Noir is priced at $95 per bottle and could be purchased at Domaine Eden and Mount Eden tasting rooms in addition to online. 25 percent of the acquisition price will again be donated to a worthy mental health ally. The Pattersons have donated over $15,000 to this point.
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