2002 Baily Vineyard Temecula Valley Meritage

Made from Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Cabernet Franc (32%) and Merlot (10%). Aged in French and American Oak cooperage for 35 months, this is a wine of elegance and finesse. I should have decanted it and let it breathe a bit before serving. It was much better after sitting awhile (and not because I was on my second glass).

Baily Vineyard is one of our regular stops when we visit the Temecula Valley area in southern Riverside County. This small wine area in Southern California isn't that well known or respected. Most of the wine produced by Baily (and the other two dozen or so wineries in the area) is sold directly at the winery or to their mailing list. It is rare to find it in a retail store.

Interesting that Baily does not use a cork to seal their bottles. They use a synthetic material called Nomacore that looks a lot like cork, but makes a much better seal to prevent any bottles from becoming tainted.