Merkin Vineyards, Wilcox (Arizona) 2021

  While it may be one of the U.S.’s younger wine regions, Arizona is producing serious wine.  Thanks to the recommendation of WineReviewOnline columnist Jessica Dupuy, author of Wines of Southwest U.S.A., I visited a tasting room in Vedre Valley last week with three dear college girlfriends on a reunion trip.  The tasting room, Merkin Osteria, highlights a rotating selection of wines from Maynard James Keenan, one of Arizona’s leading industry champions and the frontman for the band Tool.  His Merkin Vineyards Tarzan Red (85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha) oozes with jammy blackberry, blueberry, plum, anise, and a hint of baking spice.  It is inviting on the palate with a good depth of acidity that provides balance and exhibits a delicate backbone of velvety tannins.  This is killer stuff the likes of which perhaps only a rock star could produce.