This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf Long Meadow Ranch, one of the #MerlotMe event sponsors.
Complimentary wine was provided for this post and this page may contain affiliate links.
However, all opinions expressed here are my own.
However, all opinions expressed here are my own.
So, here's a funny story. When I received ten bottles of Merlot from different #MerlotMe sponsors, I put a few in my easy-to-grab wine rack, a few in the wine racks down the side of my bookshelf, and a few I hadn't unpacked from their shipping boxes yet. Yikes.
When I saw a post from another #WinePW blogger that featured this wine, I commented that I needed to track down a bottle for myself. Then I was moving wine around this week and found this bottle. Oh, my goodness! Well, I didn't have to work too hard to track down a bottle, I suppose; there was one in my living room.
The Ranch
Long Meadow Ranch, in Napa Valley, is owned by the Halls - Ted, Laddie, and Christopher. And they have integrated each element to work in a complementary fashion. So the vineyards, wine-making, olive orchards, olive oil-mkaing, cattle, horses, egg-laying flock, and organic vegetable gardens overlap using simple, sustainable methods. And all their crops are certified organic. Love it!
The Wine
This Merlot is a blend of 75% Merlot, 24% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 0.5% Sangiovese. Interesting combination!
Winemaker Ashley Heisey has both domestic and international wine-making experience and she focuses on crafting wine that is a genuine reflection of their terroir. About this wine, she notes, "Plum, black cherry and intense, but positively rich, fruit cake aromas on the nose. Graphite, cedar and tobacco flavors integrate with the balanced tannins and expand on the palate with mouth filling intensity."
The Pairing
Though she suggests pairing this Merlot with grass-fed beef, ribs, or pulled pork sandwiches, I decided to go with a Middle Eastern-inspired poultry dish. I made a Pomegranate Chicken Tagine to go with the 2014 Long Meadow Ranch Merlot.
*Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of wine samples for recipe development and generating social media traction. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organizer and sponsors of this event.
If you ever want more participants in this event, my husband and I are passionate about good wine!
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