I first fell in love with crianza at Punch, 20th & Broadway, in NYC, so trying this one wasn't out of my character. While crianzas are generally very dry, harking back to the areas in which the grape comes from, this one has only a light dry taste, with a smooth finish lasting at least ten seconds.

This wine hits you with it's nice berry aspect, and its sublime spices. This is not a wine to drink by itself, but is probably best taken with meats and/or cheeses, not fruit. I think that this would go best with some jerk chicken, or some other spicy meats, or even a nice grilled grouper... or some southern catfish.

My advice is chuck your Merlot, and try this one during the summer.