Chopbiscuit pompous wine review - 2006 Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra

Welcome to Chopbiscuit's elitist, smarty pants and stiff-neck wine review. We will be completely patronizing and pretentious as we review some of our favorite wines. As we do with with the barley pop, we will review anything from your local "box" of magistracy or the most pompous french cardinal blush.

Now, go get me some crackers and turn on the Bravo network for some clever metrosexual programming.

What we drank: 2006 Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra

If you like progressive Grammy award winning metal rock from the early 1990's, you're going to love this wine. Makes sense right? Well, welcome to one of my favorite reds I've drank in a long time. This wine is the protocol son of former Tool front man, Maynard James Keenan.

Keenan took some time of his day job and started Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars, based in the  area of Page Springs/Cornville, Arizona, southwest of Sedona, where he resides. The winery is named after an ancient symbol for commerce (caduceus), the vineyard is named after a pubic wig (merkin). If you ever get the chance, turn on your Netflix and watch the movie "Blood into Wine". It's a very entertaining and comical portrayal of Keenan's adventure into the wine business.

So, let's get to the wine. Chupacabra is a blend of Cabernet and Syrah. The color reflects these grapes; it is deep red with a hint of violet at the rim of your glass. Although it takes a bit to settle when opened, the wine comes alive in the mouth.  It is peppery and spicy, with tobacco and ripe black cherry that has a nice round finish. The blend has very persistent tannins and strong acidity, but the overwhelming taste is the alcohol at the bottom. It has a long finish with lingering currants and slight sweetness. It's not a beginners red, but has a nice mouthfeel for those looking to find any likeness for a wine that has a round, full body.

Drink up Sonny!