So here I am, at long last. Hello readers! Sorry I left you guys high and dry for the summer- I know it's ideal vino-sipping time. (Although that's debatable in Dallas, TX... 105+ makes red practically a chore...) Anyhow, I've spent my days hanging out in Taos, NM. I'm slightly sad to report, the wine here is absolutely nothing to write home about! And you will never have the chance to drink it unless you make the long, dusty journey over here. So we'll skip that part.
On to what I came here to write about: Hogue Merlot.
I've had pretty good experiences with Hogue Wines thus far in my wine tasting tenure. So although, as you may have noticed by my lack of writing on it, I am not a big fan of Merlot, (outside a blend, of course) when my (new) guy and I popped in to Taos Inn for a glass, I saw the Hogue label and beckoned the bartender.
The stuff was a little on the warm side... (I'm telling you, New Mexicans don't really do vino. Or at least don't do it well) but I still got enough of a taste to give you a verdict here. The nose was unspectacular, not that I expected anything more. It was light, with red berries and a little floral thing going on. The sniff for me is foreplay. This was PG for sure. The following sip proved better than expected, with plenty of cherry and light, spicy vanilla cruising smoothly across the tongue. Pleasant, but short-lived finish. Not bad for the middle of the high desert...
Alcohol: 12.5%
On to what I came here to write about: Hogue Merlot.
I've had pretty good experiences with Hogue Wines thus far in my wine tasting tenure. So although, as you may have noticed by my lack of writing on it, I am not a big fan of Merlot, (outside a blend, of course) when my (new) guy and I popped in to Taos Inn for a glass, I saw the Hogue label and beckoned the bartender.
The stuff was a little on the warm side... (I'm telling you, New Mexicans don't really do vino. Or at least don't do it well) but I still got enough of a taste to give you a verdict here. The nose was unspectacular, not that I expected anything more. It was light, with red berries and a little floral thing going on. The sniff for me is foreplay. This was PG for sure. The following sip proved better than expected, with plenty of cherry and light, spicy vanilla cruising smoothly across the tongue. Pleasant, but short-lived finish. Not bad for the middle of the high desert...
Alcohol: 12.5%
Varietal: 99% Merlot, 1% Syrah
Origin: Columbia Valley, WA
Price: ~$10 at most well-stocked grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: B I'm just so impressed by foreign wines under $15 at this point... the Hogue just doesn't blow me away! Easy drinking, but nothing that you want to savor by itself. Pair it with some hearty pasta and it should do the trick. I would go check out Spanish Tempranillos first though, every time. But, the Hogue will satisfy most, and intoxicate all.
