<p>2004: FishEye Merlot</p>
<p>I really, really liked the 2004 Fisheye Merlot. I don’t have other Merlot’s to compare it too so I don’t know so much if it was the Fisheye, the year, or the grape (merlot versus other types) but I found this wine to be just sweet, just spicey enough. It was a little “woody”; I don’t know if that’s the right word or not but the slightly gritty “tanniny” taste towards the end, but the combination of sweet and spicey more than made up for it 
I got this in a magnum bottle from the wine store in the Dorsey Hall Village Center by the pizza place. This is a “daily drinker” I would buy over and over again. Since it’s one of the “new wines” it also comes in a gorgeous painted bottle with a very graphical lable.</p>
<p>2005 Minage a Trois Red Table Wine.</p>
<p>This creative label names reflects the mix of zinfandel, merlot and cabernet, but of course they don’t miss the connotations of the name either, and the cork says something like “share the joys”. The wine itself is okay. Less tanning/wood/gritty than the Fisheye, but also less rewards. It’s slightly sweet, but no real fruit flavours, no spice flavours. Could certainly drink again, but I was much more excited about the FishEye Merlot than I am this one. I’m glad I opened this one tonight, I’ll let Lisa finish it while I’m travelling. I don’t think I should get any more blended wines; I think they end up just losing each wine’s strength versus gaining the collective. But then, what do I know about wine ? I don’t even know the right terms; but I know what I like. Bottom line: I wouldn’t get this again. I have no idea if it’s the year, varietal, or the blend, but it’s not doing it for me.</p>
<p>Update: February 11th, 2007: 2003 Tretadue Merlot (Sonoma)</p>
<p>”Established 1969 Alexander Valley, Geyserville Estate, Sonoma County “ General Manager: Victor Tretadue. Winemaker: Miro Tcholakov.</p>
<p> My notes: I was in an IM conversation with Bob Auger and just wrote “mmmm. 2003 merlot.” With the fettucine boiling, and the meatballs simmering in their sauce, a glass of this baby just set the perfect mood. There is no woodiness at all (well, a barely perceptible one), no tannins, just pure spicy goodness. It’s been too long since I had my last glass to compare it to the Minage blend (which I obviously didn’t care for too much) or the FishEye, but this is really nice, smooth stuff. I’m rapidly becoming a Merlot fan. This bottle is a definite “buy again”. Unfortunately, i’m afraid I lost the receipt of my little wine binge, so I have no idea how much this cost; it’s already 4 years old ( and the label notes that it will age well for 5 to 7 years) so it may be best to save for company …. or myself. Note too, that this guy’s been sitting opened for at least a week or two now (but vacu-vinned) and still tastes great. I am definitely a merlot fan.</p>
