Bibich Merlot from Croatia - A Wine About Which Anthony Bourdain says, "I want to bathe in this"

[Joe H]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVsIwVKVD3c&feature=player_embedded#t=1896s

Around the 32nd minute he says this to the wine makers. They say to him that their grandfather "drank five liters of it a day." I take delivery of this today. I don't need five liters. At least not yet. http://www.bluedanub.../winery/bibich/

[Joe H]

Took delivery and opened it. I would compare this to Slovenian and Moldovan wine that I have had in that these wines are a knockout value for the price. Within their borders. I am also guessing that if I was in Croatia this would have been similar.

But I'm not. And, at $39.95 it seemed obscenely expensive. I should note a bias, I prefer a more alcoholic wine-both the Merlot and the Shiraz were 13% alcohol.

Today I also bought a bottle of '09 Termes for $23 at Costco which we also opened. Blew away the Croatian. Yet it was 15% alcohol and was much thicker, more depth, more mouth coating with a longer, jammier flavor lingering in my mouth. If I had spent $15 or 18 for the Croatian (as it must cost in Dubrovnik or Split) I would feel differently.