Region: Graton, CA
This wine strikes me as smooth right away. It’s full of bright fruit, but not tart fruit like so many bottle I drank over the past two months. The main notes are strawberry and a juicy, juicy plum with subtle spice and vanilla.
I enjoy how unobtrusive and delicious this merlot is. If you’re in the mood for an easygoing, sunny wine, this is a great choice.
Other Bloggers' Thoughts:
Nose: Blackberry, smoked plums, earth, barrel room, confectionery. Taste: Medium-full mouthfeel. Medium-high acid. Soft, full, and smoked plums. Red berries and cranberries. Extended finish for the price point.
Pale ruby in color, this Merlot has a subdued earthy nose with mushroom notes. Light to medium bodied, it delivers dry red-berry flavors with beefy undertones. Well structured, with supple tannins, it has a lingering tart-berry finish.
Smell: Raspberry, cedar, and black pepper are the front runners, but the wine pulls in nuances of fresh chopped ginger, licorice, chocolate, jalapeño, and soy sauce. Sip: Aggressive tannins and a full mouth feel are the forerunners for a slightly hot blackberry and cedar flavor. Touches of leather and diesel accompany.
Savor: Alcohol and tannins maintain a strong presence but fade into blackberry and raspberry.
This merlot is quite interesting, but doesn’t have the softness that is sometimes associated with merlot. It could potentially use another year, but it is a rather fun wine because of its complexity and unique smells.
20 Oct 11.
