I've written about Meridian Vineyards and their Classic tier Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 here. I liked it quite a bit, and so a few days ago we tried the Meridian Merlot, also from California and a 2007. I'm not terribly familiar with Merlots in a positive way, but after a pleasant experience with a Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot, I wanted to try the Meridian version.

Meridian Merlot 2007 California

I liked the Meridian Merlot. Not as much as the Meridian Cabernet Sauvignon, but it is definitely enjoyable. It was a very purple wine, with more fruit on the nose than I'd expected. It was more black cherry than plum, but plum was there, as was something darker—cocoa? It was sweeter than I'd expected, and the hint of cocoa made me reach for some Lindt Excellence A Touch of Sea Salt chocolate. It was a super idea; the wine and the bitter sweet chocolate feed into each other, enhancing their individual strengths, with the hint of sea-salt functioning as a palate cleanser. I'm going to have to go buy more Merlot—and more chocolate. In fact, I'm eyeing the Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot, and wondering about a head-to-head. And then there's the Columbia Grand Estates Merlot.

Meridian Chardonnay 2007 California

At this point, I've tried three of the Meridian Classic California table wines. I've written about the Meridian Chardonnay before in passing here. As I mentioned then, Merridian's Chardonnay is a California "big" Chardonnay. The Website notes that the Meridian Classic Chardonnay has been "softened by seven months of aging in French and American oak." Here's another opinion. These wines are from the lowest tier Meridian wine, their "Classic" tier, about which Meridian's Web site says "These wines are perfect to have on hand for an impromptu visit from a friend or to take with you to a dinner party. Their easy-to-drink style and bright fruit character means they are always a crowd-pleaser." That's a pretty honest appraisal of the three I've tried. Revisiting the Meridian Cabernet Sauvignon after about nine months of experimentation with lots of other Cabernet Sauvignons from California, Washington, and Australia made me realize that while there's a fair amont of quite drinkable wine at the under $5.00 price point, I'd rather spend the extra three or four dollars for something at the under $10.00 price. It's simply that these wines, in my experience have been richer, more complex and thus more enjoyable over all. I note that I have also had some notable "score" purchases of wines at under $5.00 a bottle, like the Dancing Bull I found last year at just over $3.00 a bottle (and less with a case discount)— they changed their label art. I'd buy any of the three again, and probably will, particularly at the fairly frequent sale price at chain grocery stores and drug stores of $5.99 which makes these wines closer to a steal than a bargain.