I like to watch the History Channel.  I still happen to learn new things even though I’m just having a glass of wine and watching it to relax.  Something I was reminded of recently while watching it was the importance of bronze in the history of early civilizations.  Bronze is a blend of copper and another element (they call it at alloy) like tin.  This blend produces a metal that is more versatile than copper alone and gave the cultures that used it an advantage with their weapons and armor. 

The discovery of this blend was so significant that historians even named a complete period of time after it, The Bronze Age. Just as blending multiple elements together can lead to a metal with superior properties (some that even enabled the advancement of civilization), wine makers blend varietals, vintages and wine from different barrels in their ageing rooms to create the perfect wine, one better than any of its single parts.  The French have been blending their Bordeaux’s for ages and more recently Robert Mondavi and Philippine de Rothschild created a modern day blend when they started production of Opus One. The following wines really highlight the quality of wine that can be produced from a winemaker’s creativity by blending together multiple varietals.

Sinplicity White, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2005 ~ 11.99

55% Semillon, 45% Chardonnay.  Pale straw with green tints.  The creamy citrus of the Semillon harmonizes with the stone fruit essence of the Chardonnay to produce this fresh, fruit-forward wine.  Medium-bodied with creamy fresh peach aromas, a long zesty citrus palate and a crisp finish.  Simply sinful!

Kestrel Vintners, Lady in Red, Columbia Valley, Washington State, 4th Edition ~ 16.99

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 2% Sangiovese.  Deep ruby-red in color with a bouquet of ripe strawberry, cherry, currant, licorice, black pepper, vanilla and blueberry fruit.  Tastes of cherry, cedar and tobacco make for a lingering finish.

Bodega Nofal Alonso Blend Cuvee, Valle de Uco, Argentina, 2003 ~ 19.99

60% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Tempranillo.   Made from carefully selected and hand-picked grapes.  Intense red color with violet hues.  On the palate, the wine offers rich, concentrated flavors of cassis, plum and black currant fruit and hints of toasted spices and vanilla.  Full-bodied with balanced tannins, a silky texture and a long finish.

Desert Wind Ruah, Columbia Valley, Washington State, 2006 ~ 19.99

44% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc.  This is a full-bodied, Bordeaux-inspired blend with a lush core of concentrated blackberry fruit with a hint of licorice on the palate.  Aged for 10 months in American oak, the wines has hints of toasted oak and almond spice, as well as a rich garnet color, soft, velvety tannins and a lingering finish.  “Ruah” means “the breath of God that created life.” 

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