Markham Merlot

2006
NAPA Valley (St. Helena, CA)




Epiphany: I thoroughly enjoy talking about wine with others.

Well - here I am on a Wednesday, drinking a not-so-everyday wine (for us anyway), eating a not-so-everyday meal. That is what life is like when you have THREE daughters (two who are in high school). You realize you need your weekend "vacation" to come mid-week sometimes.

This is a 2006. The last Markham was 2007. Believe it or not, the 2007 is more expensive and is given a higher rating than the 2006. When I consult my Kevin Zraly Windows on the World book I see that he has an asterisk by the 2007 which denotes it is an especially good year for California Merlot. I think of my brother with happiness as I slurp the wine into my mouth, forming a whistle with my lips, aerating it, and then close my mouth and breathe out through my nose, allowing the flavor and scent to consume my olfactory lobes. My poor brother endured much laughter by the Guy and I for his very serious wine tasting slurp in the past. Now I find it most useful. Screw how silly I may look and sound! My personal reflections are that this wine is JUST AS GOOD as the 2007. Big cherry flavor, heat, slight vanilla, spicy pepper, some herbal notes and a really nice warm finish.

I owe tonight's meal and wine enjoyment to three key people: first, my friend John B. who provided the wine (and his very generous wife who shared yet another bottle from her favorite vineyard because, though she likes it a lot, she and John really prefer beer - lucky me), and second, my Brazilian friend and co-worker RS who tells me every bad day I have to pick my chin up and go home and create a tasty meal and enjoy a glass of good wine and "forget about what's troubling you", and last but not least, my dear brother.

My buttons are constantly being pushed, and the waters always tested by my eldest lately (whom I LOVE with all my heart and soul BTW!!!!) and today was no exception. I ran into my dear Brazilian friend in the hall at work who struck up our normal type conversation and reminder after seeing I was troubled. He, like me, has surrounded his work area with pictures of food and wine - his, very Mediterranean (he has one dreamy pic in particular that I like to visit of an elongated table loaded with fresh seafood and wine, situated outside on a rocky ledge overlooking the Mediterranean), and mine with my own pics from my dining room (ah - no comparison there!). I asked him what his favorite meal was and what his favorite wine was. He told me he just loves a great big steak with shrimp or fish on the side and a nice Pinot Noir. I was surprised that Pinot Noir was his preference. He said that he used to prefer Cabernet Sauvignon but doesn't like the higher sugar content? I haven't looked into that. However, Pinot is his preference. He put the "steak" in my head.

As I drove home I thought about dinner, and how I had nothing great to serve. I started thinking about my earlier conversation and decided on steak, which we rarely have. That made me think about my other Markham Merlot at home from my friend John, but I put it out of my head because I decided I was formulating a "weekend" meal, not a busy, weeknight dish. Regardless, I needed to stop at the market to get whatever I was making. As I sat in the parking lot trying to figure out what I was going to do for sure, my dear brother sent me a text thanking me for his Christmas gift. I had given him a bottle of Kistler Pinot Noir that our FANTASTIC uncle had bestowed upon me. He decided to open it tonight with an aged cheddar he had. He wrote that he was thoroughly happy and that the wine was awesome, and that he was cooking a special, rocking chicken dish while eating the cheese and drinking the wine. THEN he decided he would like to try the wine with chocolate. But the only chocolate he had was dark m & m's he'd received for Christmas, and he added a "LOL" as he knew he was drinking a special wine and considering what m & m's might add or delete from it! I thought at that moment how much I enjoy hearing about others' wine experiences. :) It makes me happy. I also thought: Well, dammit! I am buying a grass-fed piece of juicy beef and some Shitakes and opening John B.'s Merlot!!!!!!! Yay! I decided. Life is good. I know and I am grateful for this day and what I have that makes it even better.

Here is a very sad reality. Check out the picture below. Do you see how much (or how LITTLE) wine is in the glass? THAT is all a woman is allowed to have per day without risking her health!!!!! Men, on the other hand, can enjoy two full glasses of wine. Women are allowed one 4 ounce glass of wine per evening for heart health, more than that is detrimental to the breasts and blood pressure. Well, I have risked my health this evening. My blood pressure must be way up and God only knows what's happening to my breasts. The Markham was worth it.


Once in a while we might pass on the street
We nod and we smile and we shuffle our feet
Making small talk standing face to face
Hands in our pockets 'cause we feel so out of place

Our paths may cross again in some crowded bar
We feel a little lost 'cause we've drifted away so far
Hoping to find the right words to say
We joke a little and then go on our way

We are so out of touch, yeah
We are so out of touch, yeah

--Lucinda Williams, Out of Touch--

8.25 out of 10
13.8% Alc. by Vol.
$15 - $20 / 750 ml. bottle