Blends - Tricks or Treats? At a recent tasing, I heard a man call CAP*ROCK GARNET ROYALE a "trick wine." I asked why, and he said, "Because it's a blend." I thanked him for the compliment since many of the greatest wines in the world are "trick wines". Winemakers in France learned long ago that blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and other varietals gives a red Bordeaux a more consistent style from year to year. Blending also allows a winemaker to style a wine that is distinctive to the winery. CAP*ROCK winemaker, Kim McPherson, makes three distincitve, varietally labeled blends to go with the winery's popular CABERNET ROYALE - Rose of Cabernet, in a "Royale" series: GARNET ROYALE - a Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Barbera blend; DIAMOND ROYALE - a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillion Blend; TOPAZ ROYALE - a Chenin Blanc, Reisling, Muscat Canelli blend. These good tasting, affordable and award winning wines are best described as Texas High Plains versions of French country wines. - John Bratcher, V.P. Sales & Marketing   Kim McPherson, Winemaker *  Page 1  *   Next   *