I was given a bottle of wine as a Christmas gift by a "Well Heeled" friend.

It's French, that's about all I can tell you. I am most definitely not a wine conniseur by any stetch. In fact I don't even really like the stuff.

I'm just wondering if this is good wine or not, what it would go well with and its approximate value.

p.s I'm not planning on regifting or anything I just want to know if this is something I should be saving for a special occasion or putting in the cold cellar for 10 years. (it's only an '04 bottle)

It is a 2004 Merlot, bottle says "Vin De Pays D'oc" I think the town of origin is Dupuis?

Made by, Bouchard AiNe' & Fils.

I think that must mean the dude who made it was Bouchard AIne and his daughters or girls??

Guess, I'm not "cultured" enough.

But I'd like to know more.

 

i like to drink the stuff. there is about a 10% chance that the cork is harboring bacteria that can ruin the taste of an other wise nice wine, why would you want to store that of 10 years only to have a nasty wine? alot of people are into that but they are avid wine-o's.

if i were you, i would grill up a nice juicy steak and drink the bottle. wine is really not that bad once you get a taste for it. i like it becuase i feel good in the morning and its usually pretty light.

let us know what you think of you decide to drink it becuase im traditionally a white drinker but im always looking for a good red

brett

 

Fils means sons, and a merlot is typivally a wine with a hint of berry. Sometimes people do'tlike reds as much,buy find this wine to be a bit more palatable.
Drink it slightly below room temperature (sometimes it gets sharper if it is not).
Merlot goes well with beef and peppery dishes.
Hope this helps, not an expert either but just some stuff I have learned.

 

I am no expert either, but we have dabbled in it. We had a 1990 or so Riesling that we let sit for 6-7 years and we opened it one night with some good friends and let it breathe for awhile and it was amazing. All the stuff I have heard the wine people talk about, the taste of the oak from the barrels and all the other flavors were there. The best one I have had.

I have noticed that certain wines need to breath. We bought a Muscadine and when we first poured it into our glasses it had a super strong alchohol bite to it that covered any flavor. I let my glass sit for several minutes and then it changed and the alchohol burst was gone and the flavor was there. They have different type glasses for different wines, some wide and open in the top....actually I think that is how wine glasses are, the thin ones I believe are for champange, but not 100% sure on that. Also certain foods are better with certain wines. The food will blend nicely with the wine. I think I have heard they (food and wine) will compliment each other....if you follow me.

I'd check out some wine websites for a merlot and see what food they say it is good for. I'm thinking beef,chicken or pork....again, not 100% sure. You should also be able to find out about letting it breathe, but you'd just have to experiment with it. I think letting it sit will not harm it. It has to be dark, cool area for storage, hence, wine cellars. We have what we have in our basement and have had 10 bottles or so down there for almost 10 years and every now and again will open one, a special batch a friend of mine home brewed. I prefer the sweet wines like the muscadine and the riesling, I think those are considered dessert wines....I believe.

Hope this helps. Wine drinking has a TON of little things involved with it as far as drinking it, what to eat with it, etc, etc. It's a French wine so it should be good. Enjoy!!!

 

same way as the rest; aDTR wine expert- I don't think so.....

But from that local area (approximately 1700 bottles per year) you would have a nice flavored, full bodied (like juice not water) meal compliment.

Merlots have fruit to them; different proportions of apple, pear, berry and other low acid content fruits (elderberries, etc.) as with any vintner (wine maker) the combination choice -makes the popularity or specialness of the wine.

to answer your question:
1. it is personal choice of what you like, but yes- let the wine settle to the air temperature.

is it wax over the cork? it will not age, serve it when ever you want.
yes, share the flavor with special friends- this is a gift selected like a bit of clothing just for you by your friend. approximately a fifty dollar to 80 dollar
run.. hope that helps you! BUT try to enjoy it as part of a meal- Top round steak, venison loin, pasta and meat like stroganoff; that sort of meal ideas.

and we all above are available next tuesday.....

 

Thanks for all your input.

I have a large portion of Prime Rib that we are preasantly steaking (As in An entire Prime Rib, coincidentally a gift from a business acquantenance) I think I will save a good size portion and roast it and serve said bottle with the prime rib next time we have friends. I want that "AAA" prime rib to age a little more before we have any more