We opened a bottle of 33° N Merlot Estate 2008 wine produced by Fallbrook Winery in Fallbrook, California. This estate grown Merlot was from the Gracie Hill Vineyard 2008 harvest. Produced by Fallbrook Winery in Southern California, this opaque dark purple with a ruby rim wine was full bodied and offered nuances of black cherry. Other dark fruits such as blackberries and black currants lurked in the background. The finish was fruity with medium tannins. The fruit yielded to spices such as cinnamon. Although one can enjoy the wine by itself, we also paired it with grilled hamburgers. The grilled meat and wine matched well.

Fallbrook Winery is in the South Coast region of California. The winery has two lines of wine. The 33° N line was chosen because the winery and vineyards are located on the 33^rd parallel. The winery is one of the largest wineries in Southern California.

We had an opportunity to visit Fallbrook Winery last year. Read an article we wrote about Fallbrook Winery here. Anyone planning to visit the Fallbrook Winery should contact the winery for an appointment. Keep a camera handy for delightful photos of the vineyards and the aging cellars.

Cheers, Kathy