#MerlotMe and Meaty Asian Sandwich #WinePW

 
#MerlotMe is the world-wide celebration of Merlot wines, which takes place in October every year. Jeff Burrows from Food Wine Click has invited the #WinePW bloggers to this annual event and to taste some of the best Merlots. I received the Casillero del Diablo Merlot and the Cheslsea Goodschmidt Guidestone Rise Merlot Alexander Valley as #sample and enjoyed them with a meathy Asian sandwich. Let's see how these Merlots elevate the quickest and most effortless weekday dinner.

2019 Casillero del Diablo Merlot, Valle Central, Chile; SRP $12

Casillero del Diablo Merlot 

Casillero del Diablo Merlot is produced in Valle Central of Chile, where the soils are alluvial, rocky, stony, and granitic along the hillside. The climate is Mediterranean, with marked influence from the Andes. These ideal soil conditions and the optimal climate throughout the year create the perfect terroir for producing high-quality red wines, including the Casillero del Diablo Merlot.

Nose: Cherry, cocoa, vanilla and smokiness.
Palate: Chocolate, dark plums, red berries, liquorice, spices, hints of vanilla and smokeiness.

What are the hooks? Silky, velvety texture, medium-bodied, structured, and affordability for a high-quality day red wine. 

2019 Cheslsea Goldschmidt Guidestone Rise Merlot, Alexander Valley, California; SRP$25

Cheslsea Goldschmidt Guidestone Rise Merlot Alexander Valley

The Chelsea Goldschmidt Guidestone Rise Merlot embraces the exceptional soil conditions and climate of the Alexander Valley AVA, which located in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California. The Guidestone Rise Vineyards is slightly cooler than the rest of the area, making it especially well-suited for Merlots. The river soils and sandy loam there permit the right amount of moisture to bring the grapes to full maturity at harvest.

Nose: Floral, dark berries.

Palate: Black berries and cherries, chocolate, and creamy.

What are the hooks? Deeper and richer than most Merlots, heavier tannins, full-bodied, lush and long finish.

Meaty Asian Sandwich

To pair with the Merlots, I want to do a quick meaty sandwich with an Asian twist. If you don't know it already, the Chick-fil-A sauce, which is the sauce that makes the chicken sandwich so tasty from the stepped-up fast-food chain, is available in grocery stores. I like mixing this sauce with some Sriracha hot sauce, adding a bit heat and zest. I also mince a whole garlic and spread it on the sandwich bun. Drizzle the bun with some olive oil and toast the bun in the oven until the garlic lightly browns up. 

Homemade Bacon

Right after that, whatever cooked or cold-cut meat you want to use in your sandwich is purely personal preference. I used some home-made bacon, polish veal kabanos, and pork tongue cold cuts on mine. In the most effortless way, the crunchy and tasty sandwich bun and the juicy and smoky meat stuffed inside probably provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy these Merlots.

To continue the #MerlotMe celebration, check out how the other #WinePW pair their Merlots with:

• 2012 Ridge Estate Merlot + Reverse Sear Ribeye Steak by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
• California Dreamin’ for #MerlotMe Month by My Full Wine Glass
• Celebrate #MerlotMe with a Wine that Hits the Mark by Supporting Veterans by Exploring the Wine Glass
• Experiments with Salmon and Merlot by Somm's Table
• Ground Beef and Kale Recipe with #MerlotMe Wine by Cooking Chat
• I Melt for Merlot and Chocolate by What's in That Bottle?
• Kicking off #MerlotMe with 2 Rutherford Hill Merlots and decadent burgers with chocolate! by Crushed Grape Chronicles
• Merguez Sausages and a Debut #MerlotMe Wine from Gürbüz by The Quirky Cork
• #MerlotMe and Meaty Asian Sandwich by Chinese Food & Wine Pairings
• Mushroom Madness Paired with Merlot by Always Ravenous
• October Means #MerlotMe by Wine Predator........Gwendolyn Alley
• One of the Oldest Foods on Earth + 2019 Bonterra Organic Merlot by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Tri-Tip Steak and Duckhorn, a #MerlotMe Classic by Food Wine Click!
• Won't you please #MerlotMe? by A Day in the Life on the Farm