Sumac Ridge 2008 Merlot

Photo credit: me

I'm sure you were all wondering what the other bottle of wine in that magical gift basket was, so here she is! A nine-year-old Merlot from the lovely Sumac Ridge. 

I've always found Sumac Ridge to be a reliable Okanagan vineyard — their sparkling wines are fantastic and their single varietals are always a lovely expression of the grape.

This wine was big and bold, but well-rounded likely because of its age. It's got a gorgeous, deep burgundy colour and it's one of those bottles that's making me remember why I used to really like Merlots. They may have been criticized by movies like Sideways and branded as "basic" (before that was a term, I know, but it still applies), but there's a reason it's one of the most common wines — it's a solid red when done right.

After a day where everything kept going wrong — I showed up for my first RMT massage and there was no one there! I went to a crazy spin class (research for an article) and forgot my water bottle! I decided to take transit home without showering and my fingers turned blue! — this was a rich, comforting Merlot that warmed me to my core.

Also, it was a fantastic companion to my vegan eggplant parmesan with spaghetti and roasted garlic tomato sauce. Not a huge surprise there, but man, did that meal really hit the spot after a rainy day.

While you won't likely find the 2008 anywhere — which honestly makes me wonder if this was in the private cellar of whoever put together my prize basket — you can pick up the 2015 at a BC Liquor Store. It's even on sale for $12.99 until the end of September!