Nothing gets the ladies’ attention like a big….font. Yes this label for Rex Goliath Cali. Merlot has a bold and imaginitive font that wraps proudly around a great big rooster. Really, how can you see this bottle and not want to try it. It is both playful and distinguished. The addition of “FREE RANGE?” at the top of the label I find pretty humorous in a dry, British way; the addition of “HRM” for his royal majesty is also cause for a royal chuckle and also adds that little bit of distinction.
Whether you find the label funny or not, I suggest picking this wine up because it is relatively cheap–I think it ran us about $7 here in TX–and I think it is a good example that US merlots can be good.
Well, that’s it for tonight folks. Those are your big winners! Feel free to let us know if you think the judges made the right choices or if there are better contenders out there. Til then America, goodnight and God bless.
UPDATE
We tried this wine again the other night and I’m not so sure my first opinion was correct on this one. I still think the label is great, but after a second taste, I have to say I found the wine a bit bitter and only had about half a glass before I was over it. I’m not sure what the difference was this time around. The last time we tried it, we had already tried another wine and maybe my senses were a little dulled, or possibly the transition between the wines caused me to think it was better than it is. For $7.00, it’s still not bad, but I’m afraid I have to amend my favorable review and say that this wine is just OK , and it’s probably not the best example of a great American merlot.
Sometimes first impressions can just be skewed. Post Family Wineries here in Arkansas makes an Altus Vignole which I thought was to die for the first time around. Before the end of the bottle, I was tired of it. I thought it might just have been oxygen exposure, so I bought another…but I still found the taste lacking that first glass’s impression. Does the tongue have a fickle psychology?
Hi, I actually had Rex Goliath before and yes, I am a lady and yes, I like that label…lol.
I think I tried a shiraz/syrah and it was pretty decent and economical.But you are right about how wines can change once opened, and sometimes, it may be what we eat that makes them better or worse or the mood, temperature or whatever. But it’s quite a fun mystery.
Cheers,
lisa
I find walking up a steep slope improves most wines….but not all.
…and the same can always be said for beer too!
I had an Italian wine expert tell me that some of those need to be decanted for 2 1/2 days to fully “open up!”
Yes the palate is fickle and it’s perceptions change depending on what other flavors and aromas are around.
A winemaker buddy of mine, early in his career, was freaking out after a big dinner party at which he was debuting his first cabernet.
A world renowned wine consultant was in attendance and everybody but the expert was making funny faces tasting the wine.
What was unique about the wine expert’s palate? He was the only one of the guests who hadn’t sampled the rhubarb pie!
Evidently the oxalic acid in rhubarb reacts with the tannins in red wine in a very nasty way.
An informative blog with a good sense of humor. Well done.
Hi there.
Just wanted to let you know I added your blog to the links page on my blog Wine for Newbies. We both blog about wine, but in different levels, so I wonder if you could exchange links with me as well?
Thank you,
Andre
Wine for Newbies
http://www.winefornewbies.com
ps. I suggest you add a way for people to contact you (contact form). It is very helpful.
You have a very nice blog, good post…keep up the good job
Please link to this site.
http://cookingrecipe001.blogspot.com/
It is a splendid site. Please link by all means
http://cookingrecipe001.blogspot.com/