Fetzer - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Publix)

Strong oak flavor with a tinge of smoke in the aftertaste, Fetzer Merlot is a solid medium-bodied wine that I am enjoying from my new space in the home. Yes, I've reclaimed a piece of it for myself, it's every (wo)man for himself here at the abode !

When you live in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo with your fiance, space can get a little tight. Although we are fortunate to own a home that encompasses an astonishing 1200 square feet, even still, there could always be more room. When his two children spend the weekends with us, they take over the spare bedroom (and every other available corner). My fiance likes to occupy the living room (that's where the xbox lives). So, that leaves me with few options for a space of my own --- the kitchen (standing room only), the bathroom (an obvious no), or the bedroom (no wine allowed).

I took it upon myself to reclaim a forgotten corner of the condo -- the porch (or lanai as we call them in Florida). One weekend, I took an entire afternoon to scrub every corner of the porch to make it livable. After removing the cobwebs, sweeping the dust and appointing it with some colorful lanterns and a giant fan for the especially hot summer days, I uncovered a small sanctuary. I've dubbed it the "girls club" -- Roxy, my dog, and I can now sit in peace and quite in the giant papazan chair doing as we please--drinking some wine, reading a magazine and in this case, blogging (the wifi reaches out there !) Sometimes, it's not that you need space, it's just that you need a space...

We're in the process of becoming the primary care givers for his two elementary school aged children, two boys ages 7 and 9. It's a long story of how we came to this point in the road so I'll spare the back story, a culmination of the past two years. In essence, things weren't working out with them living with their mother (his ex-wife) for a number of reasons and so, over the past few months, my fiance has been coaxing her into mulling over the idea of exchanging custody rights. To our surprise, two months ago she filed on her own accord. In a month, we'll have the court's official decision.

Where am I in this sudden shift from fiance to step-mom? I'm excited, but it's a bittersweet sort of excitement. I don't know a single person in this same situation and hardly anybody knows how to react to the news. I know that you single guys and gals out there in your mid-twenties (or older) are staring, mouths a-gape at the thought of coming into a situation like this. At one time, I, too, literally said I felt I was "much too selfish" to take care of another human being. But of course, at some point you grow up. At 26, almost 27, I've lived a very full, very incredible life--I've seen and experienced things that most people have not at my age -- and I don't see that stopping just because I'll be helping to raise two children who aren't mine by blood, but whom I love all the same. The adventure of life doesn't have to end just because you have children !

So, to each one of you who has said, or has thought at some point, "wow, that sucks" or "oh, you poor thing," your pity is hurtful. You wouldn't tell your pregnant friend "wow, that sucks" if she told you she was pregnant, would you ?

I knew my fiance had kids from the first day we began dating so I have been fully aware for quite some time of what I could be getting into. For him, it's the first time in six years that he'll be able to reclaim his place as full-time father and provide his children a stable, loving home life. That's a pretty exciting thing for someone who has missed out on many milestones due to the current circumstance and I can't wait to be there for the rest. Yes, it will be challenging, but regardless of whether they are your own or not, children are a challenge. Period.

Life is all about encountering new challenges and learning how to coexist and learn from them. And when times get tough, or require a bit of thoughtfulness over wine, I've got my new space to retreat to.

Barefoot - Merlot @@@ (3 Corks)

Retails: $8.99 (4-pack, BP Gas Station)

I'm sitting in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere--the Everglades to be exact. I'm on a shoot tomorrow at the Miccosukee Reservation and I decided to stay the night before at their hotel/casino---yes, apparently the stereotype holds some truth in this instance. As soon as I walked through the doors, the fairy-princess-twinkle of slot machines and the overwhelming stench of cigarettes greeted me. The decor is identical to the "entertainment decorating" of Disney World and Carnival cruise ships---nauseating patterns accented by over-the-top bright colors with neon lights for an accent. Opting for the economical dinner option, I chose to eat at the buffet (what casino doesn't have a buffet?!), big mistake. The only thing on the menu was a heartattack. As I awkwardly ate half-ass bites of lard-encrusted roast beef alone, I noticed that in an entire room I was the only person under 50. I know you snarky non-Floridians out there are saying "But Florida is ALL old people." No. It isn't. It's about 65% old people, thank you, and I cannot remember a single instance where I literally could not find anyone within 20 years of my age. (20 YEARS!!)

Luckily, I came prepared. Fully knowing that this hotel would be located in the middle of nowhere, I stopped into a BP and picked up a "classy" 4-pack of Barefoot Merlot. No, I'm not planning on drinking all four, but from experience, the 4-pack is a better bet on the road than a full bottle. So, before hopping on Alligator Alley (the passageway between Naples and Miami that runs you right through the Everglades), I stopped into a BP for a pee break and to snag some wine for the destination.

Considering that I got this from a gas station, I'm impressed. I was shocked that this BP carried something other than Sutter Home, heck, I didn't even know Barefoot came in a 4-pack. As far as Merlot wines are concerned, it's nothing to write home about, but it's not bad. It's absolutely drinkable. It's making an otherwise lackluster evening watching American Idol (don't judge, all hotels offer an appaulingly small amount of channels) and surfing the net in an ashtray, into a slightly more luxurious experience. Slightly.

Travel for pleasure and travel for work are two different experiences. I've stayed in some extremely terrible and extremely lovely locales and in each instance, relaxing with a glass of wine at the end of the day has been able to keep me from completely going mental. So, should you ever find yourself under similar circumstances, I suggest you run down to your local gas station and snag yourself a 4-pack of Barefoot Merlot.

Lindeman - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $4.87-$6.99 (Wal-Mart / most grocery stores)

First off, I have some very exciting news. This past month my live-in boyfriend and I became engaged! On 12/4/09, he proposed at the dog park where we met (yeah, we met at the dog park, no, he does not have a dog, he was there with his sister---I have a poodle). It was pouring rain out, we were supposed to be going out to dinner and a movie and he took a "wrong turn" and suddenly we were at the place where we met. He dragged me out of his truck and dropped down to one knee in the pouring rain and said: "This is where I first asked you out on a date and this is where I'd like to ask you to be my wife." Funnier still, I got engaged around 6:30pm, it wasn't until 9:30pm at night before I could get a hold of either one of my parents. Mom was in Quebec visiting relatives and Dad, recently retired, is in a folk band and had practice. I must have called both of them about 100 times a piece until I finally got someone on the phone--there was no way I could allow myself to call anyone else until they knew. To bide my time while waiting and re-dialing, I browsed wedding dresses on The Knot while killing a bottle of Kitchen Sink red wine.

In other exciting news, I've teamed up with the good ladies at Silly Goose Travel , two co-workers who have a passion for food, travel and all the wonderful things in life. From time to time we will be guest blogging on eachothers' websites.

Back to the wine... Lindeman's Merlot was probably one of the first wines I ever sampled. My parents always kept it in-stock at our home due to its inexpensive price tag and flavorful presence. My Grandfather and Step-Grandmother, here in Florida, have caught on to this brand and so there isn't a cocktail-hour-visit with them that doesn't include a Lindeman's bottle.

I recently became re-aquainted with this Australian varietal when Wal-Mart put them on sale for $4.97 a bottle (!!!) Full-bodied and bold, Lindeman's Merlot is full of rich berry and tannin flavor. For the price, you really can't beat this wine for its richness and complexity. I've sampled wines priced at x10 the amount that haven't tasted as beautifully as this Merlot.

Santa Rita 120 - Merlot @@@ (3 Corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

A friend of mine recently gave me a very useful gift as a birthday present: a wine journal. This one made its way to me by way of Williams & Sonoma, which was coincidentally this same friends' choice for her wedding registry (affordable? um, no.)

This gracious present has actually been extremely useful. As of recent times, I'm back on the road pretty much full time. Thankfully, for the time being, I'm as local as a half hour away so I'm still privileged to have some time at home.

This economic climate has not fared well in the world of video and unfortunately, as previously mentioned in some of my entries, half of our team has been thrown to the wayside. I'm fortunate to be kept afloat, however, it comes at a high price to my leisure time. This wine journal has provided a sacred place to store my opinions an thoughts on each bottle I'm too pressed for time to write about in real-time.

This Merlot comes my way via Chile, although lacking body in flavor, this varietal provides a strong variety of flavors -- slightly wheat smell, some concord grape taste with peppery accents and a very dry finish. It tends to leave a pucker-y flavor on the palette so for those of you who prefer a less tannin-infused wine, this is certainly not for you.

Jindalee - Merlot @@@@@ (5 corks!)

Retails: $6.29 (Total Wine)

This South African Merlot is an incredible find. Unlike typical California or Australian Merlot, the Jindalee Merlot's flavor is sweet with a dry finish. A strong muscadine, grape-y flavor greets your mouth upon the first sip and the finish is just a subtle hint of dryness.

For those of you who happen to live near a Total Wine, I suggest you get on their e-mailing list. Periodically, they send you coupons and other offers. Just in time for my birthday this past week, Total Wine had a coupon out for 10% off a "mixed case" (any 12 wines). So, in truth, this wine actually cost me around $5.50 with coupon. Not a bad deal!

Hardy's - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $3.99 (Total Wine)

Shockingly lucious for a wine priced under $5!

Beautiful, full fruit flavors create a bouquet of tastes to be enjoyed. Berry, ripe cherries, tart pomegranite whisk away to reveal a smoke-y flavor that lingers within your entire palette. It's thoroughly enjoyable and delightful by itself but is even more enjoyable with a flavorful meal. My one word of advice is to not let this wine breathe too much. It is best consumed in one sitting, the flavors become a little less pronounced, the tannin flavor begins to take over. Otherwise, enjoy this super-cheap, excellent wine!

Turning Leaf - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $4.97 (Wal-Mart)

Another inexpensively priced gem from brothers Ernesto and Julio Gallo, Turning Leaf Merlot is actually quite a tastey bottle for the price. Certainly, I've had other reds within this similar price range that have wow'd me more, but it's not bad. Frankly, I'm pretty surprised, after my previous post on their Gallo brand Zinfandel, I was not expecting a whole lot.

The marketing for each brand under the Gallo umbrella is fascinating to me. This particular brand follows the tradition of allowing a wine to "breathe" by encapsulating their entire marketing strategy on wine as allowing the consumer to breathe: "Before you uncork a bottle of Turning Leaf wine, we invite you to take a deep breath, let the day slip away and renew."

Let's get down to taste: it's not quite as flavorful as I'd like it to be but it's pleasant nonetheless. The best part is the finish: slightly dry with a smokey aftertaste. No offensive tastes on the palette so this is definitely a good choice for beginner red wine drinkers.

Beringer - Merlot @@@ (3 corks!)---- GIRLS' NIGHT PART 3

Retails: $9.99

To Recap: The panelists are: myself, Mrs. Almighty, Sunshine, Pineapple, and S. Breezey (Fo Sheezey)

Aside from Mrs. Almighty---note: I only call her this because we call my boss "Ben Almighty," --- I was in a sea of white wine drinkers at Girls' Night. She shares my passion for dry wines, therefore I LOVE her. :)

This selection comes from S. Breezey and I consider it a total win in that Sunshine, an avid Mike n' Ikes consumer and wine neophyte who currently enjoys sweet whites, actually said: "For a red...I actually like this! The aftertaste is good!" SCORE!

Pineapple found it a little too strong for her liking but she DID say it's the best red wine she's had, so proceed with caution with strict white wine drinkers.

Beringer Merlot had a smooth, oakey flavor with a buttery after taste that was slightly dry. It's very drinkable and as far as reds go, it's quite low in tannin flavor so I can understand why infrequent red wine drinkers would find it palatable. I can say that I was completely shocked at how good this Beringer was. Apparently, S. Breezey used to work in a restaurant where this was the house red. It was such a hit with myself and Mrs. Almighty that we finished off the last two glasses in the bottle. Yum!

Little Penguin - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: ? (gift)

I'm thoroughly enjoying the fact that since I've launched my blog I've been gifted no fewer than three bottles under $10. I'm thrilled to have material to write about but I can't help but wonder--are my friends and family thoughtful...or just plain cheap? :) There's also many more questions that arise about whether I'm gifted bottles of wine because my people think I'm in a wino but that's for an entirely different conversation.

This past weekend I had an old friend visiting me. To make a long story short she screwed up and in an effort to apologize, gifted me TWO bottles of wine--one expensive and one I could blog about. The Little Penguin was, obviously, the blog-worthy wine.

As many of you have probably realized, Australia has become quite the exporter of inexpensive brands. Some, of course, are better than others. I'm not much of a fan of Yellow Tail but Little Penguin makes the cut. Very drinkable, smooth berry flavor with a hint of dryness. Even after being uncorked for a day or two, it still holds up in flavor. I wouldn't say it's an incredible buy, but it's definitely not half bad.

So, cheers to friendship--nay, family--who can forgive the errors in each others' ways. I drink to you, my dear friend. Thanks for the cheap hooch.

Banrock Station - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: Gift (but again, I was assured it was under $10) :)

My parents have a home in Maine and a condo in Florida. Unlike many people my age, my folks are retired and come down to Florida to visit almost every month. We get along extremely well so I'm thrilled that we get to visit this often. I'm originally from Maine and have little reason to visit anymore other than my folks and my best friend from high school. When my parents visit, we usually eat fantastic food cooked by my live-in boyfriend and kill a bottle (or two) of wine each visit.

This last time around, they were only here for a couple of days. The last day of their visit, they surprised me and my boy with a bottle of Captain Morgan for him, and a bottle of wine for me--which my father assured was under $10 so I could write about it. Having been an English major in college, he used to critique every essay I wrote in elementary and high school. I think he's somewhat surprised that in my spare time I've taken up writing as a hobby. Granted, I'm writing about wines, still, but no doubt his mentoring in my youth served as the template for later works. He encourages my blog writing not only for creative expression but also so that he does not waste his time on cheap wines that aren't worth the trouble--I've figured you out, father!

Regardless, I'm familiar with Banrock varietals, they make a complete line of wines and they really are rather good. As a word of note to other cheap wine enthusiasts, wines from Australia tend to be on the cheaper side but they are quite good nonetheless. This one is no exception---delicious!

3 Blind Moose - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: ? (gift...but I've been assured that it's under $10 :) )
So...I have a live-in boyfriend, we'll call him "The Boy." Occasionally, he gets himself in trouble with me, but I'm fortunate enough to have a really considerate guy in my life who realizes when he's done wrong--or at least, realize when he's upset me enough to make HIS life miserable. He quotes the comic, Ralphie May, when he remarks: "I can be right...or I can be happy."
This week, he screwed up and we had a minor argument and surprised me with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine for us to try together. He told me he looked "specifically for a bottle under $10," he knows me well. It's also cleverly titled and labeled---who doesn't love a moose?--- so I was smitten with my new wine to try.

It was a really sweet gesture but I couldn't help thinking he was nuts. He's a newcomer to the wine scene and I'm slowly introducing him to wines, we're currently at the Riesling stage. So, a merlot, was quite a huge leap of courage for him...annnd of course, I'm going to end up drinking the whole bottle by myself because he quickly realized that we're not in the merlot stage in our relationship. More for me!

I've actually had this wine before, ages ago. It's an easily drinkable Merlot, very smooth, with a slightly dry/bitter aftertaste. It creates that delightfully pucker-y feeling between your cheeks. I would definitely let it breathe. Straight from uncorking it's not particularly flavorful.

Last Words: It's a good merlot made only better by the sentiment by which it came. :)

Double Dog Dare - Merlot @@@@ (4 corks!)

Retails: $2.99 (!!) (Total Wine)

Seriously, for the price, this is one heck of a deal!

It may not be fancy like many other wines I've got on here, judging by the name they are apparently aware of how inexpensively priced their wine happens to be. I took the dare, and darn it all, it's a super good value.

Rich, crimson color; bold, classic, merlot taste. The flavors edge on the berry-side of taste with the teeniest bit of dryness in the finish. It's good with food or without, it has enough flavor to hold up against a sumptuous repas.

Final words: I'm speechless, really. I can't get over the explosion of flavor in contrast with the price. I've had way more expensive merlots in the past that weren't nearly this good. Seriously, worth a shot.

Gumdale - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

After having so much success with Gumdale's Cabernet Sauvignon, I decided to give Merlot a try. Surprisingly, Merlot wine was the first I was introduced to and it has remained one of my favorites. Frequently, it's the first variety I'll try within a particular brand. I decided to try this one while performing a ritual I try and do weekly: a bubble bath. Not just any bubble bath, I always drop a Lush "bath bomb" or "bubble bar" into the tub, and soak while drinking a glass of wine and reading The Week magazine. No, none of these companies are paying me to promote them! A little Lush, politics, and wine make for a wonderful combination.

This Merlot, however, didn't strike me as anything particularly out of the ordinary. If you like Merlot, you will like this one. It has a smooth flavor that contains a hint of spice. The one thing about this glass that I'm not particularly keen on is the slightly sour after taste coupled with the dryness.

Final Words: Not distinctive but not bad.

Pacific Peak - Merlot @@@ (3 corks)

Retail: $6.99 (Total Wine)

Pacific Peak Merlot is your classic California merlot. It needs time to breathe, a swift swirl of the glass, and a little swishing in your mouth, and its flavors are fully delivered. Not for the novice wine drinker, this wine requires a certain fondness of earthy flavors and dryness. The dryness playfully dances on the tip of your tongue and slowly makes its way back to the roof of your mouth. The dryness resonates but is not a disadvantage to this wine: slight, not too hindering to other flavors. You will enjoy the earthy tones of cinnamon and bergamont hidden within the dryness of this classic merlot.

Final Words: Enjoyable, but nothing I'd keep in stock on a regular basis.