Sullivan Vineyards

The first thing to notice as you pour this 14 year old beauty into your glass is the intense garnet color as you look at the deepest part of the glass, but the edges take on a slight brickish hue that signals an aged wine. Age has not taken anything away from this wine but has transformed it into a mature reliable Merlot with much to be appreciated and enjoyed. It offers something new to experience with each sniff and sip. On the nose there is overripe fruit and dried flowers with a hint of spice and leather. A taste opens quickly with black cherry, dried roses, bay leaf, coffee, earth and finishes with toasted coconut and soft tannins.

The next taste may reveal something new again. Take this rare journey for yourself. 

A well-aged wine, especially a Merlot, makes for an interesting and fun food and wine pairing experience. Flavors that develop due to age can change pairing components. For example, leather might be a flavor associated with an aged Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon and is going to pair differently than a youthful, fruit forward wine. As for this beautifully aged 2000 Merlot, pairing it with meats is no problem. Beef, lamb, sausage, grilled meats, roast pork, BBQ and game meats all pair very well, as do dishes with mushrooms or pungent herbs. Also pair hard and aged cheeses like Cheddar, Gouda and Parmesan. Just experiment and see what works. And enjoy the process.