You can say meri-TAHJ, but you would be wrong!

Meritage.  French, right?  Not so much.  Merit + Heritage = Meritage - rhymes with heritage.  Now that we have the wine-speak down, what does it mean to us as consumers?  Not much.  The term Meritage refers to New World wines blended in the tradition of Bordeaux and...hold on to your hat...they can be red or white. 

It really means more to the producers.  In order to use the term Meritage on their label, a winery must join The Meritage Association, which was was formed by a group of American vintners in 1988.  Their goal - to "identify handcrafted wines blended from the traditional "noble" Bordeaux varieties".  Producers pay something like $1/case produced to a maximum of $500 per year for the privilege of using the name.

Strictly speaking, a Red Meritage is a blend of two or more of the red “noble” Bordeaux varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and the rarer St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère.  A White Meritage must be a blend of at least two of three specific white “noble” varieties  - Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon or Muscadelle du Bordelais.   Neither can include any other grape variety and no single grape variety can make up more than 90% of the blend.

What brought this on, you ask?  I'm not really sure except that we opened a bottle of Ravines 2005 Meritage and the wheels started turning.  The growing conditions in 2005 were almost perfect and this blend of 45% Cabernet Franc, 32 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 % Merlot is a fine example of that.  It is deep ruby in color, with tons of fruit and spice and a hint of cocoa.

MERI-tidge, meri-TAHJ....."if we ever part, that would break my heart"!