Pairing Meritage and Bordeaux Style Wines

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Pairing Meritage and Bordeaux Style Wines For many people, wine appreciation, collecting and drinking begins and ends with Bordeaux. You may not even realize it, but it is primarily two grapes that make up the lion's share of the Bordeaux blend, namely Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Cabernet Franc trailing as a close third. When dining at the average restaurant that serves wine by the glass, chances are there will always be a Cabernet Sauvignon, and there will likely be a Merlot on the list as well.

Bordeaux can also be thought of as the most famous wine region, as its branding has been secured for centuries. It's because of this that the Bordeaux blend, or Meritage (as they call it in California), has spread across the globe. From Bordeaux itself to Super Tuscans in Italy and Meritage in Napa, your likelihood of pairing a meal with a Bordeaux blend is very high.

Most people default to a hearty steak, which is a great pairing due to the fatty meat contrasting with the wine's concentration and firm (if youthful) structure, but these wines are far more versatile than that. Let's explore the Bordeaux blend from a number of regions and see what kind of pairings we can come up with.

Photo courtesy smcgee via Flickr/CC

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Comments

Nathan-
Ophardt

905326 324

Nice choice on the NY meritage. Dr. Frank in the Finger Lakes also does a nice one.

Apr 20, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Eric Guido

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

92549 60,803

Thanks for the suggestion, I plan to make it out to the Finger Lakes this August.

Apr 21, 2012 at 7:50 AM
Nathan-
Ophardt

905326 324

If you want trip suggestions, let us know! We're Finger Lakes geeks :-)

Apr 21, 2012 at 8:10 AM
JonDerry

Hand of Snooth

680446 2,127

That 2008 Firebelle's a beaut, the 09' is very good too, will be best toward the end of the year I'd imagine.

Apr 23, 2012 at 1:11 AM
Eric Guido

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

92549 60,803

I have the '09 waiting to be tasted. I'm really looking forward to it.

Apr 23, 2012 at 6:47 AM
kathleen-
wright

990029 27

The Meritage on Long Island is also a very good wine. 2008 Paumanok vinyards in Jamesport produced an excellent vintage.

Apr 29, 2012 at 9:35 PM