La Merika… A Star to follow, A Continent to Discover or a Wine to Drink?

We are currently witnessing the arrival of the latest vintages of affordable wines to dealer’s shelves. Many are of them are adorned with labels bearing weird names or strange pictures to attract the casual buyer. A saving grace among this gaggle of weirdoes is La Merika from Delecato Family Wines.

 
So you noticed that the name La Merika which, with a few minor changes, morphs into America. We Googled La Merika and came up some astounding facts that appear as though they belong on the Sci-Fi or History channels. The yet unproven La Merika Theory suggests that America was discovered centuries before Christopher Columbus, by Henry Sinclair, a Scottish nobleman, and that it was the star, called La Merika, that he followed in his quest, The name La Merika was probably derived from the symbol of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, and it was this star that guided Sinclair to the “new world.” To the people at Delecato Vineyards, the name seemed to fit for their new series of popular priced wines, which they consider to be a star among a sea of mediocrity.

 
La Merika Monterey County 2013 Pinot Grigio ($12.99). If this was the beverage of choice of Henry Sinclair, get us a time machine. The La Merika Monterey County 2013 Pinot Grigio is a soft, straw colored, dry wine with a rich fruity bouquet and the lively aroma of apricots and pears. Its flavor is classic Pinot Grigio, crisp with a raisin-like quality, coupled with the acid bite of limes and then ending in a long, clean, and fresh finish that lingers in the mouth long after the wine has been finished. Do not, under any circumstance, miss this wine, it’s just too good to let pass.

 
La Merika Central Coast 2013 Cabernet Savignon ($14.99). This wine is an easy to drink Cabernet Savignon that needs no time to age away any rough edges due to five months of oak aging, a process usually reserved for the more expensive wines. It is also a wine that proudly displays its California full fruit attributes and does not try to emulate its more austere and considerably harder French cousins. This wine has an upfront berry-like aroma showcasing cherry and blackberry, with a hint of dark raisins in the background. Here is the ideal wine for those grilled steaks that have become popular among barbeque aficionados. Try this wine; we are sure you will enjoy it.

 
La Merika Central Coast 2013 Chardonnay ($12.99). There is no searching to find the fruit in this Chardonnay; it is all there, up front and announcing itself boldly. The most obvious aromas are apple and citrus, backed up by a host of summertime fruits. The flavor of this medium bodied wine is almost indescribable and is a blending of every light colored fruit that you have ever liked. The wine is superb, a party, and a cornucopia of flavor. If you have become tired of the taste-a-like, boring Chardonnays, try the La Merika Central Coast 2013 Chardonnay, we are sure that you will enjoy the wine much as we did.

 
La Merika Central Coast 2013 Pinot Noir ($14.99). Based on our known affection for Pinot Noir, presenting one to us is like trying to pet a Tasmanian devil; not a good move if the wine is not one of quality or worth its price. We can easily say that this wine is a super buy and more than lives up to our expectations. It is a well-made wine that exhibits all of the properties and charms the grape is capable of without any of the negative features often found in its less expensive cousins. Big in flavor and dark in color this wine exhibits an open and obvious dark cherry flavor and aroma coupled with oak and spice ending in a BIG finish. To be totally honest, to find an affordable Pinot Noir that does not taste like mouthwash is a rare treat, this wine is such a treat.