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The Outlander Meritage Paso Robles 2021 is a $7.99 Aldi exclusive. The Meritage in the name indicates that this is a Bordeaux blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec grapes. To be a Meritage wine a license is purchased from the Meritage Alliance. They are an industry group promoting education and working on advances in the vineyard and winemaking techniques.
Aldi owns the trademark on the Outlander name, but the producer has changed from past vintages of the Outlander Meritage. In the past, some entity of Coppola Wines produced this Red blend (the back label still shows Geyserville, California), but a quick check of the California Wine COLA (the labeling approval board) shows the Outlander Meritage Paso Robles 2021 made by Scheid Family Vineyards of Monterey California. Scheid makes many wines for Aldi along with some Trader Joe’s labeled wines.
We do not know which Paso Robles vineyards were used, the change of producers probably necessitated a change in grape sourcing, The 2021 vintage does not feature the Cabernet Franc grape which is one of the five approved Bordeaux Red grapes. If you liked or dislikes past vintages the Outlander Meritage Paso Robles 2021 should be a little different. The alcohol content is a balanced 13.5%.
The Outlander Meritage Paso Robles 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is dark black cherry red with black highlights. The nose is dark blackberry, dark chocolate, herbs, mint, tart cherry, and toasty vanilla. The Outlander Meritage Paso Robles 2021 is a medium to full-bodied Red with dark flavors.
This Red blend tastes like blackberry, French vanilla, plum, black pepper, a slap of spice, and juicy black cherry. The midpalate brings blueberry, orange zest, sour cranberry, and a slightly rough-edged spice. The tannins are sweet and stay out of the way and the acidity lets the flavors fully unfold.
The Summary
- The Outlander Meritage Paso Robles 2021 is a bold but balanced full-flavored Red blend that sells for $7.99. This is something that would have been nearly impossible to find 5 years ago and here it is sitting on the shelf of a value-price grocery store.
Love this wine. When you initially take the sniff test, you think that it’s going to have that rubbing alcohol taste. Not even close. It’s a balanced wine with nice flavors. The only negative is that it may hint a little bit on the syrupy side. For 7.99, it’s a damn good wine. I only bought it because Paso Robles has decent wines and it had a 92-point score on its label. What do I know? It’s quite drinkable and enjoyable.