Last night, it all finally caught up to me. I have so much to do, so little time to do it in — my to-do list grows daily, and every time I check something off, I feel like I add two more items to it. This happens every year right about now, and its overwhelming, yet I am committed to not being overwhelmed. So last night, after a day of meetings and typing and reading, I decided it was time to settle down. In my usual fashion, this meant firing up the grill, cooking dinner, and having a glass of wine.

The wine I selected was from Merisi, a boutique producer I’ve only recently become familiar with. Deep, rich, and brooding, this inky dark wine opened up beautifully over a nearly two-hour decant as I sipped and cooked, sipped and ate, and eventually, sipped and read a good book. Notes of dark purple and black fruits, chocolate, and subtle coffee flavors emerged over time. A certain earthiness added depth and complexity, while very fine tannins coated my mouth and drew out the finish. I liked it at the beginning, but loved it by the end.

This is not only an excellent wine, but an excellent value as well. Small producers and talented winemakers rarely offer wine like this at such a reasonable cost. It was just what I needed to get my week, which promises to be a real doozy, started on the right foot.

Cheers,