The Outlander Meritage Red 2019 is a $7.99 Aldi exclusive sourced from vineyards in Paso Robles, California. This wine was produced by Coppola Winery from Sonoma California and was purchased in the last year by Delicato Family Vineyards, headquartered in Lodi.
A Meritage Red blend is a California wine that uses the approved grapes of the Bordeaux region in France. Those grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. There is a wine trade group in California dedicated to the study and advancement of these wines and wine producers pay a fee to use the name. Meritage rhymes with heritage.
The Outlander Meritage Red 2019 uses Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec in the blend. Using more Petit Verdot than Merlot in the blend is something that is far more likely to occur in California than in France. In Bordeaux, Petit Verdot is difficult to get fully ripe and is typically only a few percentage points of a Bordeaux blend. The grape has little difficulty ripening in California.
Paso Robles is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in California’s Central Coast AVA. It is a region that is known for exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and has many excellent vineyards. The back label of the Outlander Meritage Red 2019 mentions vanilla as one of the flavors and vanilla is incorporated into wine through exposure to oak. There is no mention of oak barrels or if the oak was French or American (they impart different flavors).
Store brands have a price advantage over the typical retail wine and a $7.99 Aldi wine is probably the equivalent of a wine selling between $10 and $15 in a wine shop. The Outlander Meritage Red 2019 is a classic Red blend produced by a well-known, well-regarded winery with grapes from an AVA that is well suited for Bordeaux-style wines. The alcohol content is 13.9%.
The Outlander Meritage Red 2019 Tasting Notes
The color is a barely see-thru garnet red. The nose is ripe dark berries, spice, raisins, black pepper, plum, light herbs, and violets. The Outlander Meritage Red 2019 warm, smooth wine with a kick from the spice.
This Meritage blend tastes like blackberry, a nice slap of exotic spice, licorice, raspberry, and vanilla. The mid-palate and orange zest, plum, a hit of sharp spice, and blueberry. The tannins are soft, but they are in the mix and the acidity is nicely balanced.
The Summary
- The Outlander Meritage Red 2019 is a tasty Red blend.
- If you like your Red with ripe rich fruit and a good dose of spice this wine is for you.
- It drinks well above its $7.99 price tag.
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