2011 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot, USA, California, Wine Review

This is from grapes that are grown 63% IN Napa and 37% in Sonoma. It also contains 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was a difficult vintage, yet this is a nice wine. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries and coffee. Also a hint of clove. Medium bodied. On the palate, black cherries and cherries with some underlying spice. A slight green note on the finish. Nice acidity. The fruit is not under ripe but just barely. This drinks well but will work better with food. Fried chicken might be nice. Drink over the next few years.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2011

Current Price:

$50.00USD

2015 Luna Vineyards Canto, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2015

Score:

Grade:

This is an excellent wine. A blend of 50% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot with grapes from Atlas Peak and Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. Consumed over two days, this was better on Day 2. Purple in color. On day one, the nose shows black cherries, slight cedar and a clove/bitters quality to it that is very interesting. On the palate, this is not a big, bold wine. Rather, there are plenty of concentrated fruits, mostly cherries and black cherries with a slight bitterness (again in a good way) to it. On Day 2 (re-corked and left on the counter), this wine really open

2017 Outpost Immigrant True Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Howell Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A+

This is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 29% Cabernet Franc. Another project made by Thomas Rivers Brown. This is a gorgeous Bordeaux blend. I know that many critics have worried about the 2017 vintage and while the fires are a legitimate concern, I have been loving them and especially the Cab Franc and Merlot. I loved this even more than the 2015 which I scored 97 (reviews are on this site).

2003 Paloma Merlot, USA, California, Napa, Spring Mountain, Wine Review

Vintage:

2003

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$25.00USD

Time has been quite kind to this wine. On release, this was a bit disappointing after the stellar 2001 and 2002's. At age 16, however, it has put on weight, aged slowly and is a terrific Merlot. Purple in color with ruby swirls. The nose has milk chocolate, cherries and just a bit of raspberry. On the palate, this has nice layering of fruit and earth. Tannins are all resolved. Easy drinking. Good finish. This won't get better and should be drunk in the next few years. It will go well with roasts and casseroles of all types.

2019 Ettore Merlot Zero, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$35.00USD

This is a first and foremost, a very nice Merlot. But before talking about that it is worth noting that this wine is made without added sulfites. They accomplish this by using the Purovino® method. From the company's web site: "The purovino® method is based on controlled hyperoxygenation on wine grapes and a CIP process of all the equipment with ozone-enriched water. After the harvest, grapes are fumigated with a specific concentration of activated oxygen that induces a controlled oxidative stress.

2011 Ridge Monte Bello, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage:

2011

Score:

Grade:

Monte Bello is one of the great wines of California. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Though 2011 was a difficult vintage in most of California, Ridge hit a home run (again) with Monte Bello. It might be drinking a bit earlier than other vintages, but it is a fantastic wine. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, cigar box, plums and char. Very nice. On the palate, this has a wonderful texture that is lush and full bodied but not over the top. Plenty of cassis and plum fruit with underlying earthiness and slight char. Good finish. Works with medium and heav

2011 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot, USA, California, Wine Review

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2019 Ettore Merlot Zero, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

2011 Ridge Monte Bello, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review