Wine Shout: 2013 Petit Rouge

Merlot with about 10-20% Syrah offers up bright cherries and dusty blackberries with spicy notes thanks to the Syrah, and a touch of oak from neutral barrels that allow for the fruit to come through. In past vintages, this wine has had very different ratios of the grape varieties used, including other varieties not used in 2013, so this year was a departure that I must say worked well. The Syrah complements the Merlot nicely, and the balance and surprising complexity in this entry-level wine make is punch above its weight class.