There's one across the street from the Hollywood Bowl on Highland, Sean.

Not yet, no. Also, have not come as close to the Rupert Giles Dragged Across The Floor Unconscious Invitational.(Although we should probably say that Jim at least set the American standard for Dragged Across A Floor Unconscious.) At one time, I had envisioned an Angel/ Rockford fic. Mistaken identity with the Angels or something. But I was probably sick then too.

If I were to regift this to a person who IS a wine person, would this be considered a nice choice?

If it's a Vintner's Blend then it's a $10 table wine. Ravenswood does have some very nice, fancy upscale Zins (as well as a Zin Vintner's Blend that I get as my default red), but the Merlot you got (while perfectly pleasant) would not register as a nice choice to a wine person. It'd be sort like handing somebody a jar of Smucker's Strawberry Jam for xmas. "Oh. Okay. I can put this on toast."

There's one across the street from the Hollywood Bowl on Highland, Sean.

Oh, perfect!

They ain't hidden, Seany is just a hermit.

If they don't open a tree lot across the street from me, I don't know where to go.

It's always 5 pm somewhere...

Exactly....

At one time, I had envisioned an Angel/ Rockford fic. Mistaken identity with the Angels or something. But I was probably sick then too.

Snerk.

Nice, but not like...Special. Are Merlot people pickier or is their Zin grape the total bomb?

Your southern drawl is so totally cute. It would make me crush on you, if I didn't already.

awww.

Is 1:30 too early for a drink? I could pretend to make lunch...

hell no.

SA, where will you be in Guatemala?

quetzaltenango. Also known as Xela. I am...not prepared. But then, I never really am for my travel abroad things.

It'd be sort like handing somebody a jar of Smucker's Strawberry Jam for xmas. "Oh. Okay. I can put this on toast."

I love it when you're all chic and smart and stuff.

Are Merlot people pickier or is their Zin grape the total bomb?

Merlots got wildly overplanted during the peak of their popularity about 5 years ago, leading to most inexpensive Merlots being watery and sweet. I say most - I don't know that particular wine, but I do like Ravenswood.

Nice, but not like...Special. Are Merlot people pickier or is their Zin grape the total bomb?

Well, since Sideways came out, Merlot has taken a hit in Specialness. It's considered to be kind of bland and mellow. (Not to judge any Merlot drinkers here. Whatever pleases your palate is the way to go.)

Zin is not the hot varietal that it was in mid eighties when I moved to Northern California. In fact its section keeps getting distressingly smaller. But a good Zinfandel can be as complex as a good Cabernet. There are a lot of tannins to work with. And a table wine priced Zinfandel (such as the Ravenswood Vintner's Blend), is a very good deal for a red.

The big deal in wine these days seems to be these very small super expensive vintages by cult wineries. But that takes a full time commitment to vinology that I don't possess.

Their Zins can be the total bomb. Very few places do outstanding Merlots these days. But if you are drinking Merlot, then you are expecting that. And it would be a lovely dinner wine.