Meritage, pronounced like “heritage” with an M, is a name for Bordeaux-style blends that come from regions other than Bordeaux.
This one comes from Robert Mondavi Private Selection. I think it’s a safe assumption for me to figure that you’ve heard of Robert Mondavi. The company has a number of different tiers in their wine portfolio and the Robert Mondavi Private Selection (RMPS) is one of the lower-priced tiers.
This meritage is made from 33% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 27% malbec, 7% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. And although there’s only 1% petit verdot I always say that petit verdot makes a red blend better.
The grapes for this wine come from the Central Coast region in California and primarily (99%) from Monterey County.
This wine starts off with dense plum, black cherry and blackberry scents on the nose, coupled with plenty of spicy aromatics like nutmeg, cinnamon and cedar. The palate is tasty with rich black cherry and blackberry flavors, providing plenty of fruit. There’s also some chocolate flavors. The acidity is good and a touch of tannins give a touch of texture to the wine. The oak comes on a little heavy on the finish.
Overall, this is a pretty good wine and when you factor in the price, it’s a great wine. I was much more impressed with this one than the 2010 vintage.
Wine: Robert Mondavi Private Selection Meritage
Variety: Meritage red blend
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 87
Price: $11.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.