by Fred McMillin
for September 2, 1999

A Vertical Tasting of Wine X

Prologue

Some of the vines that produce WINE X.

Different vintages of the same wine are compared in a vertical tasting.

The Tasting By My Panel

There were six vintages of Wine X, the 1990 through 1995. How good were they? Well, let's compare the ratings of the six bottles with the average ratings of the top six from our usual 20-wine tastings. For example, the wines that finished sixth in our last ten tastings had an average score of 86. The sixth-rated bottle of Wine X had a score of 91! Not bad.

The Results

The Wine

Clearly, Wine X is superior to the wines that usually top my tastings. What is it? LANGTRY MERITAGE RED WINE by Guenoc (gwen-uk). It is aging beautifully. No sign of fading fruit or acquistion of unwanted flavors...A PERFECT GIFT for your friends who appreciate the very best. For more info, contact the office of co-proprietor Karen Melander-Magoon, phone (707) 987-2385, FAX (707) 987-9351.

Postscript

What's Meritage?—Meritage is a trade-mark name created in California a decade ago. A red Meritage may be made only from the top five Bordeaux varieties, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc. It must be one of a winery's two most expensive wines. The Oxford Wine Companion says the "few finest" Meritages give hope that this new breed of blends will achieve greatness. The Langtry Meritage certainly is one of those FEW FINEST.

About the Writer Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. He currently teaches wine courses at San Francisco State and San Francisco City College. In 1995, the Academy of Wine Communications honored Fred with one of only 22 Certificates of Commendation awarded to American wine writers.

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