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Bonterra and Creamy Lasagne Soup #MerlotMe

 October is International #MerlotMe month and I am so excited to celebrate with my #WinePW (Wine Pairing Weekend) group. We are going to share all things Merlot, and you can see some of the posts below.

But first, the wine.  Merlot is the second most popular red grape, following Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a beautiful wine, elegant and easy-drinking that goes well with food but also just on its own. It's the red my husband introduced me to when I decided to switch from sweet wines to drier wines.  In French, Merlot means "Little Blackbird."   in the 1700s a French winemaker mixed Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and it became so popular that this is the main ingredient for Bordeaux blends.

Merlot pairs well with a lot of meats, and in fact, is my husband's favorite pairing with steak, smoked meats, and pasta with meat dishes.  We both like it with a meat pizza and a charcuterie tray.  Merlot works well throughout a meal, so it is a great wine to order at a restaurant, too.



Check out these other informative posts and see their food pairings that are listed below. If you love Merlot, you are not want to miss these!

Each year several vineyards send out Merlots to bloggers to feature during the month of October.  I was sent two different bottles and I will talk about one today and then the other one later in the month.  

The first one I will feature is Bonterra Merlot.  From their literature, organically farmed and masterfully made, Bonterra Organic Vineyards wines are crafted to be perfectly in tune with nature. A celebration of the vitality derived from organic cultivation, our wines reflect careful farming practices carried out on a dynamic network of estate and partner farms throughout California. Long before organic produce filled the shelves of neighborhood groceries, our dedicated team was committed to organic and Biodynamic farming because we passionately believe that farms teeming with biodiversity—encompassing vines, insects, and wildlife, and healthy soils—yield better wines.  Isn't that lovely?  I know I was eager to try this wine, and it surely did not disappoint.

VINEYARD NOTES


Photo courtesy of Fetzer Vineyards


This rich and flavorful Merlot blends vineyards in Mendocino County, including our organically-farmed estate sites, with organic vineyards in the Central Coast and Lake County. The 2019 vintage was
characterized by a cooler growing season, punctuated by the occasional rain shower, which allowed the grapes to mature slowly and develop a greater depth of flavor.


WINEMAKING NOTES


Photo courtesy of Fetzer Vineyards




Following harvest throughout October and into early November, the fruit for this Merlot was destemmed and pressed before a warm fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation to soften the mouthfeel and rested 12 months before bottling, with a portion of that time spent aging on a mix of new and neutral French and American oak.  Learning about the winemaking process is an important part of understanding why your wine tastes a certain way.


TASTING NOTES





A dazzling deep mahogany red with a glint of purple, this Merlot’s lovely hue sets the stage for a generous palate of rich, ripe fruit. Aromas of blueberry and plum leap from the glass, layered over a
subtle thread of graphite, pencil shaving, and a suggestion of dried herbs. This medium-bodied wine has an elegant tannin structure and a long, velvety-smooth finish.  We served our wine with a delicious lasagne soup, that we added some cream too, along with delicious homemade ricotta cheese.  We used fresh-picked basil from our garden to garnish and together with this wine, it was an amazing combination. 


Would you like to comment?

  1. I love the idea of lasagne soup! Sounds like it was a lovely pairing.

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  2. Yum! This Bonterra Merlot is such a value! It's so rare to get a delicious wine, that has such care in the growing and is so affordable! I bet this was amazing with your lasagna soup!

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  3. I poured this wine with an artichoke pasta and some steamed artichokes. Your lasagna soup sounds amazing.

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  4. I love soup and this looks perfect. This is the best season to enjoy soup and I have been running out of ideas. This sounds fantastic.

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  5. Richelle Escat1:13 AM

    That sounds like a great wine. I never knew about a dish like lasagne soup. Sounds so savory

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  6. I love the idea of wine with lasagne soup. I think it's great combination

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  7. This looks so good. I have never had a lasagne soup before. I'll have to try this out.

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  8. Ive never had that soup before. It looks delicious. I can't wait to give it a try. -LYNNDEE

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  9. What a great soup and a wonderful pairing with wine. I haven't had either of these!

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  10. Lasagna soup sounds like a great way to deconstruct lasagna. Great idea for pairing with Merlot!

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  11. I've had previous vintages of the Bonterra Merlot...such a lovely wine at a wallet friendly price!

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  12. Love Bonterra wines! Looking forward to sampling this merlot!

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  13. I too had this wine and truly enjoyed it. Love how dedicated they are to making a healthier world!

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  14. I need more food pairing inspirations and the resources you posted will be very helpful, thank you!

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