Sunday, December 24, 2006
The EXCALIBER cigar
The Excaliber brand features a shade grown, Honduran Claro Wrapper. The wrapper is selected from a very limited supply of light colored tobacco leaves from the first priming's. This cigar is bound by Connecticut broad leaf and filled with Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco. Medium in body, the Excaliber Royal Sterling speaks of balance. It has an easy draw, the taste is complex, spicy and rich, with an aroma that bears the earthy quality characteristic of Excaliber cigars. For what it's worth this is the cigar for the person looking to dabble in the art of cigar lounging. Any Takers?
Merlot
First things first, if your going to "talk wine" you should know a little about the wine in question. Merlot is the name of a red grape which traces its ancestry to the biturica variety. This was brought to France in the first century. From this stock came many of the varieties we know today - Cabernet, Malbec, and so on. The "Merlot" grape was not named as a distinct variety until the 1800s. It is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal.
Merlot is not well suited for long aging, so until recently the wine made from merlot grapes was used solely as a blending wine. Not quite as harsh as other reds, merlot has less tannin than a Cabernet and can therefore be drunk earlier. It is mellow but still complex, a bit chewy. Merlot is known for the flavors of plums, black cherry, violets, and orange. It is a perfect match for beef and other medium-heavy dishes. Try some with a rich, red pasta dish, or even a heavy chicken dish. Merlot is also an excellent compliment to chocolate. Merlot should be served at 64F.
Friday, December 22, 2006
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