Geyser Peak 2013 Reserve Alexandre Meritage Alexander Valley CA
I have liked and enjoyed both red and white wines from this winery for a number of years now, the reds in particular were a good example of what Alexander Valley is capable of.
The winery was sold to a large holding company a few years ago, and the basic white and red offerings reflect that.... the grapes for these bottlings are now sourced from both inside and outside Alexander Valley, in my opinion the quality of these wines are not what they used to be.
They are still good, but don't capture the essence of the region anymore.
However, the Reserve and single vineyard bottlings are still top notch. This particular bottle used to be a limited allocation to the NH Liquor outlets, each store would get one or two 6 bottle cases. I would wait patiently for the release date and hope that I could get my hands on a 6 bottle case, the price was around $28 per bottle. This wine is best between 4 and 8 years after the vintage date, depending on the growing season.
The 2013 Meritage opens with distinct notes of blackberries, black plums, cherries, and a hint of spice in the nose. You can taste the blackberries, black cherry, and plum, there's another fruit note that I can't quite place but it's intriguing.
The blend of grapes for this vintage is, 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 1% Cabernet. This wine at 7 years of age still has the structure to last in the cellar for another 2 to 3 years, the tannins have calmed down but are still present and it has enough acidity to have a palate cleansing effect.
A quality steak with good marbling would be a great match with this wine in my opinion, really anything that has some fat content would balance the tannins and acidity. This is a great example of how good the Cabernets from Alexander Valley can be, and at the price it's being offered at is a steal.
Available at the West Lebanon Liquor outlet for $18.99 per bottle, normal retail price is between $40 and $50 depending on the retailer. There are bottles available in the southern tier of NH outlets also.... season your steak with Kosher salt and black pepper, and top it with a dollop of garlic herb butter..... let me know what you think.....
Cheers!
Ed
