4 and 6 bottle levels   $22 (member price $19)
87% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah   14.5% ABV

 Roots Run Deep Winery was founded in 2005 by Mark Albrecht, and has become wildly successful, especially with their Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon.  Most of their fruit is sourced from premium vineyards in Napa Valley.  I was approached about featuring one of their wines in the club.  It had been awhile since I had sampled their wines, so I was skeptical.  Their Cab is everywhere, so no.  Out of their other wines, the Merlot was my favorite, and it’s been awhile since we featured a Napa Merlot.  Aged 12 months in French oak barrels (mostly neutral).  The attack has gobs of juicy black fruit with a hint of cherry cola.  The finish continues the fruit forward theme.  Hello burgers on the grill!

Food Pairing Suggestions:
Enjoy this juicy red with backyard burgers piled high with toppings, Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches, meat lover’s pizza, tomato-based pasta dishes, duck cassoulet, pulled chicken barbecue with Alabama white sauce and macaroni and cheese, baby back ribs, grilled pepper-crusted steaks topped with Gorgonzola butter, grilled leg of lamb stuffed with garlic and herbs, pulled pork tacos with spicy avocado crema and crumbled Feta, cajun-style seared salmon and steak asado fajitas. Or simply savor this decadent red with a sliver of sharp Cheddar, Abbaye de Belloc, Comté Reserve, smoky Spanish Idizabal or Rogue River Blue.