Merlot

Another example of what great value there is in Bordeaux once one gets away from the classified growths.  A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, plums, spice and char.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has some depth.  Notes of cherries, black cherries and black raspberries with some spice and a bit of earthiness.  Nice finish.  A very pleasant wine that is better with food.  This would work well with roasted fowl or meat or even root vegetables.  Drink over the next

Most wineries, like Acumen, love fruit grown on hilly terrain. The grapes have proper drainage, the addition of breezes keeps the leafy vines healthier and soils are richer in nutrients. Therefore, this Mountainside Cabernet has everything going for it. This wine requires a little bit of patience however, and decanting this for a few hours will be well worth your time. This shows the obvious black cherry, blueberry, boysenberry, and huckleberry notes that Cabernet typically has.

As always, this is a blend of left over single varietal wines to make a value blend.  And as always, it is a great value.  This vintage is  mostly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.  Deeper ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, char, spice and slight chocolate.  Lovely texture.  Bright acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries with some char.  Good finish.  An easy to drink red that is nice on its own and a great wine with a Burger.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is a 250ML "juice box" of 100% Merlot from California.  It retails for $15 per four pack.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, and confectionary sugar.  Light bodied.  No tannins.  On the palate, this has sour cherries.  Moderate acidity.  Short finish.  The packaging is cool for those trying to take wine next to a pool or someplace glass bottles are not allowed.  These boxes should hold the contents well but probably should be consumed sooner than later.  This would probably make a nice base for a Sangria, etc.  

This is a 250ML "juice box" of 100% Merlot from California.  It retails for $15 per four pack.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, and confectionary sugar.  Light bodied.  No tannins.  On the palate, this has sour cherries.  Moderate acidity.  Short finish.  The packaging is cool for those trying to take wine next to a pool or someplace glass bottles are not allowed.  These boxes should hold the contents well but probably should be consumed sooner than later.  This would probably make a nice base for a Sangria, etc.  

In just a few short years of production the Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of the de facto wines from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. Having reviewed this wine from multiple vintages, there is a clear consistency to its quality. Like most Cabernet you will find the requisite black cherry, blueberry, blackberry notes, but this adds huckleberry, boysenberry into the mix along with dusty tannins and a light mocha quality. But Red Mountain fruit also offers an earthiness and minerality with richer fruit.

This is one of our favorite value plays in Bordeaux.  It is 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose features cherries, slight black cherries, spice, slight graphite and cedar.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  Cherries, black cherries, slight chocolate and slight char.  Good  balance.  Nice finish.  At almost nine years old, this seems to be mature but with plenty of life left.  A nice level of complexity.  This is nice on its own but even better with food.  A great choice for a mid day m

It should be no surprise that this wine is a stunner. Chappellet has long delivered quality wines that exceed the status quo; nearly 60 years in fact. The fruit for this wine comes from Pritchard Hill, a well-know parcel that produces exceptional grapes. A classic old-school Cabernet, this offers blackberry, blueberry, huckleberry, boysenberry and black cherry notes with back notes of vanilla, sage, tight tannins, good acidity and the one thing that makes a wine sing – balance. Comprised of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, there are small amounts of Petite Verdot, Malbec and Merlot added in.

Merlot gets a lot of mockery (See Sideways), but a well made Merlot is truly special and this is one of the best on the planet.  Now, 2011 was one of the weaker vintages in Napa, but the late Lou Kapcsandy tailors the plants to adjust for the vintages and the State Lane Vineyard is truly Grand Cru.  The result is another outstanding wine.  It also have 5% Cabernet Franc blended in.  if anything, the vintage is a bit more accessible at a younger age than most.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  Gorgeous nose.  Black cherries, mocha, spice and slight coffee.  Full bodie

Oberon is part of the  Michael Mondavi family of wines.  This wine was quite good and very interesting.  It is of course, mostly Merlot (sourced in Oakville) but there is an undisclosed amount of Zinfandel and Syrah in the wine which seems to give it a bit more structure and likely a bit of acidity as well.  The people at Oberon feel it adds more lushness.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, spice and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of black cherries, milk