1994 RSV Reserve Merlot

[mrdutton]

While I'll be the first to admit that I am not an enthusiastic fan of Merlot, I must take exception to this 14 year old beauty.

I have not searched the internet for tasting notes, but I can tell you that I really enjoyed drinking this wine.

Deep dark purple wine with no hint of brick coloring on the meniscus. Some spice and a slight metallic taste (one previous person said "rusty nail"), smooth tannins and a long finish that contained with the tannins hints of dark, sweet, blackberry like fruit. Nice tongue feel on the pallet. Not much pucker factor, seemed like a nicely balanced wine.

(I need to invest in one of those thin, dual "prong" metal deals to slip between the cork and bottle to help loosen the cork before pulling it. The cork broke in half as I was attempting to remove it. So I pushed the remainder into the bottle and then decanted it through a brown coffee filter.)

[hotwine]

That jobber is called an ah-so. I'm no good with it at all and invariably default to your solution.

[winoweenie]

The weener is currently teaching a 2-week course at Phoenix Christian College on finger dexterity and one of the problems we solve is the use of the Ah-So! The course is priced minimalistically at only $2,351.48
with wine tastings included for an additional $7316.77. Must be over 26 to enroll. WW

[Innkeeper]

We use a portable screwpull on corks, and a monster waiters' pal for other closures (other than screw tops).

[mrdutton]

WW: I think I'll hold off on those lessons - too expensive for my pocket book.

IK: All I have in the house are screwpull brand cork screws.