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Friday, October 12, 2018

You Had Me at #MerlotMe with Ca'Momi

Another year has passed and the time has come for another month full of merlot.  Every October our Wine Pairing Weekend (#WinePW) group celebrates International Merlot Month that began back in 2012.  It’s our opportunity to sample wine from a large variety of winery participants that take part in this event.  This year I’ve been blessed with the chance to try a number of merlot bottles from a variety of producers including Duckhorn, Ca’ Momi and Markham Vineyards.  All the wines shared hail from California where merlot is the 3rd leading red grape grown.  I even will be trying NorthStar Merlot from Columbia Valley, WA this month.  So grab a glass of merlot and join us in the fun!

2016 Ca’ Momi Merlot Napa Valley
ABV 13.5% SRP $19.99
The winery was started in 2006 by 3 Italians: Stefano Migotto, Dario De Conti and Valentina Guolo-Migotto.  It's name represents the "House of Momi", which is an important landmark in the owner's mother country. Growing their grapes in Wild Horse Valley and the Carneros district.

Made from 100% merlot.  This wine was full of juicy red berries.  A medium-bodied wine with nice bright acidity up front with plush tannins.  Finishing with vanilla notes.  This wine is aged 8 months in both French and American oak.  
2015 Ca'Momi Merlot
I paired this wine with a classic roast chicken dish and I also tried it the next night with a creamy parmesan herb chicken mushroom pasta.  It went well with either dish, but I actually enjoyed it with the simplicity of a roasted chicken.
creamy parmesan mushroom chicken pasta
2013 Ca’ Momi Merlot Reserve Carneros Napa Valley
ABV 14.5% SRP $44.00
This is the 1st release of their reserve wine for Ca’ Momi.  It hails from the Carneros district of Napa Valley.  A full-bodied wine with much depth and complexities.  Rich, ripe fruit full of raspberries, plums and blackberries.  The wine needed to open up a bit since when I first opened it the tannins  jumped out to say hello ; ).  As it had an opportunity to open up the tannin became well integrated into the wine backed with good acidity. 
2013 Ca'Momi Merlot Reserve Carneros Napa Valley

I paired this wine with a hearty beef bourguignon in the slow cooker.  Slow cooker meals are a life saver some days.  I did also try it with the chicken dish, but it stood up much better to the beef.  It's depth and body stood up well to the spice and beef in the dish.
slow cooker beef bourguignon
Join in our merlot conversation this Saturday at 11am EST on Twitter at #WinePW.  Read on for many fantastic food and wine pairings with merlot.
     


    *These wines were provided as samples, but opinions are my own.

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