Blackstone California Merlot 2005

Pros: Inexpensive and easy to find. Drinkable right off the shelf.
Cons: Not complex and plain. Not offensive but not great either.

This wine, much like Menage a Trois (the wine, not the act) is somewhat of a staple in our household, not because it is an extraordinary wine, but because it is inexpensive and its quality is consistent. I do not mean to leave the impression that ...

Pros: Smooth, fruity, inexpensive
Cons: Nothing complex (but for crowds, that's a good thing)

Upon the suggestion of a friend, I recently decided to give Blackstone California Merlot 2005 a try. We don't normally drink a lot of Merlot in my house, but we're planning some upcoming parties and wanted to find a few inexpensive, crowd pleasing wines. ...

Pros: -Consistent -Cheap -Pairs well with many foods -Easy to find
Cons: -Boring -Unimpressive

This wine is a great “default” choice, one to keep in the pantry (because if you have a cellar, you’re probably buying something a little higher-end than this!) in case you quickly have to find something to serve with dinner or throw into a gift basket ...