First Try Tasting-Oak Leaf Merlot

Name: Oak Leaf Vineyards Merlot

Variety: 100% Merlot

Region: Livermore and Ripon, California

Country: United States

Year: Not shown - 2015 probably

Price: $2.97

Critic Review: "The Oak Leaf Merlot has a sweet taste to it and lacked complexity. The most accurate word to describe its flat aftertaste is boring. There's a reason why merlot unfairly got a bad name in the movie "Sideways," but more on that another time."

MassLive - Wine on the Cheap - Real Cheap

http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/11/wine_on_the_cheap_real_cheap.html

My Review: The first scent I noticed was fruity and somewhat bitter (is bitter a scent?). I'm still learning the lingo but if I had to pick a fruit/berry to call it, using the wheel as my helper, I'd say blackberry. Although the critical review calls it sweet with a boring aftertaste, to someone with almost zero wine experience like myself, it had ok flavor with an astringent feel that lingers after swallowing.

I had one glass without food, taking a few notes. Then I had two more with lasagna. It was much better with the food. What I find interesting is that I honestly didn't check the back label before deciding what to eat but I lucked out! The winemaker recommends pairing with, you guessed it... Lasagna!

I wanted to start cheap and I knew I wouldn't have time to hit Vintage Cellar this week or next so this $3 wine from Wal-Mart kicks off my tasting journey. There's nowhere to go but UP now!