It rhymes with Heritage

I saw Mitch Cosentino the other day, at Barber's Q (I hope to God the owner's name is Barber because, otherwise, that's a stupid fucking name for a restaurant) and I got to thinking about the fact that it's been awhile since I had any of their wine. You know, I used to work at Cosentino - for about 15 minutes - before I got a job in the wine industry that I really liked. The tasting room was not my thing - you see, I had been a real bartender before, with tips...

So, I bought a bottle of the wine that started it all, The Poet, 2004. I never buy wine this expensive - believe me - it was $69 dollars or something like that, and a Cab blend, to boot - I usually spring for an Amarone or Grange Hermitage or a Chateauneuf du Pape.  The wine is a Meritage (say it with me folks - Mare - i - tidge - it's not a French word), a moniker given to American wines made from the traditional Bordeaux varietals. In fact, I just read  that Mitch, himself (along with two or three other vintners), set this into motion. I never knew that. And, the guy that won the contest (and came up with the winning name - from Merit and Heritage) was a distributor sales guy from Northern California!

Back to the wine: it's all in here but Malbec  and there is a nice whack of Cabernet Franc which is probably the reason I liked it. A big wine but is rounding out at the corners somewhat - the oak is slightly off-balance which, I thought,  was evidenced by the prevalent cedar notes. It has a good bit of fruit - very plummy, with some black currant and cloves. I probably would not pay for it again but I would, definitely, drink it if someone offered me a glass.

BTW - Barber's Q  is worth checking out - my new fave in Napa

Comments

[Angela Wilson Gyetvan]

But, Suenarita:

How was the wine with the "Q?" Or did you enjoy those two things separately?

[Suenarita]

Separately - it was the fact that I saw him in the place that inspired me to buy and try the wine. Not a Q wine