I am a lucky man. That sentence is rarely uttered, and usually when some random yahoo, like myself, lets it slip out it is a gross exaggeration; but in this case it’s true. I have been called names, cursed at and threatened all simply because I have the privilege to sample and review wine.
When the wine form La Merika arrived I was initially impressed with snazzy wood box, and the wonderful first impression did not end there. La Merika is built around the theme of exploration, trying something new and discovering the passion of wine. Named after the illuminating starlight that Old World explores used to guide them into the unknown, they source their grapes from the Central Coast of California, giving them an abundance of top tier fruit to choose from.
The first wine that I cracked open on an unusually warm day in late winter was the chilled Pinot Grigio from Monterey. Wow. Light, crisp and filled with a floral bouquet of mellon and citrus, the Pinot Grigio delivered on taste as well. The start is mellow, with a finish that has nuances of mangos, cantaloupe
The great minerality will cut through a lot of the creamy cheese like double and triple cream bries and bring out the sweeter side of fruits like pears and strawberries. For the overall taste, and experience you would be hard pressed to find a better wine from a great AVA under $20.00.
Continuing on with my streak of luck, the Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s Central Coast was my next victim. With a fresh glass and a rejuvenated palate I dove in. Again, I was more than pleased with what jumped out of my glass. Aromas of blackberries, oak, plums and dark chocolate converged in the bouquet. At the $14.99 price point I was genuinely not expecting the level of complexity that was presenting itself.
The first sip or two or five had hints of almonds, raspberries and the ever cliche, but always spot on, coco. At the time of the tasting there just happened to be a sizzling medium rare ribeye steak sitting in front of me, and thus a beautiful partnership was born. The richness of the steak brought out the acidity of the Cabernet and added depth to the flavor profile.
Every portfolio needs a great Chardonnay, it’s sort of a benchmark of a producer. Chardonnay is easily manipulated to be tailored for the latest palate fads, to showcase terroir or to provide a certain expression the winemaker is trying to achieve. The La Merika Chardonnay from the Central Coast is a combination of all those things. With crisp citrus and a fresh floral bouquet the wine is balanced with a dose of sweet pineapple acidity and rich oak.
Indulge your palate with a sharp white cheddar from Ireland, or maybe a local creamy goat cheese. The La Merika Chardonnay puts an easy drinking and impressive Chardonnay in an easily accessible glass near you.
Finally, the last bottle to find its way into my glass was the Las Merika Pinot Noir. One of the recent trends in Pinot Noir was to blow out the fruit, creating a wine so fruit forward that it resembles more of a Syrah than a delicate Pinot Noir. La Merika bucks that trend and highlights the popular grape’s subtle nuances and characteristics embedded in the flavor by the Central Coast.
Strawberries, ripe raspberries and lavender dominate the palate. Again, I was surprised to find a Pinot Noir with this level of complexity under $20. The Central Coast of California is a sweet spot for Pinot Noir combining soil type, climate and tradition. La Merika uses all the gifts the Central Coast has to offer to create another impressive wine.
California’s Central Coast produces a wide range of sun-kissed treasures and La Merika has done a great job of choosing exactly the right vineyards to source from in order to create the expressions they achieved. The Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are great wines at an even better price point. La Merika enables wine lovers to sip on an every day drinking wine that will please the palate and the wine novices the chance to sample true varietal nuances without being overwhelmed by price and scarcity. La Merika is putting great wine within reach of the masses without hassle.
Just rated Powers Johns Lane few min ago – 1,5 stars (from Middleton-Pernod Ricard).
Can’t go any higher with this one, unfortunately…
10 years old? Right, probably in 4th or 5th filled casks. It tastes young, immature, poor.
Some sweetness, vanilla, wood – no improvement with time in the glass and water. Peat is dominant, but not pleasant.
Avoid, if you can.