What a lovely Bordeaux blend! W says it’s his favorite wine – ever! I’m really wishing I had another bottle right now.

This delightful wine came from France to Highland Wine (seriously, if you’ve never been, go there tomorrow so that Skip, Sawyer, and Houston can set you up with some fabulous wine picks!). It’s 70% merlot (shocking, I know.. merlot!), 20% cabernet, and 10% Petit Verdot.

It has a healthy serving of tannins, and they blend so perfectly with the rest of the flavors. Many heavy-tannin wines seem to have tannins competing on one side against flavor on the other side… but they’re not collaborating together to make a great wine. This wine has two team players with the tannins and the great fruit flavors that mesh together like old friends. If you know French, check out the video linked from the top-right corner of their website.

I’m sure this Bordeaux would go great with a nice steak or other piece of red meat, but in my case it accompanied an improvisation to this fancy grits, chicken, and mushroom dish from Epicurious. I used Anson Mill grits made with milk, baked chicken breast cutlets with rosemary and garlic, topped with a sauce of beef and chicken stocks, white wine, mushrooms, shallots, and bacon. Super yum!

Origin: France
Where: Highland Wine
Next time: Get a case! / Special Occasion
Price: $29