Purple/ruby in color. The nose has cherries, spice and some chocolate. On the palate, this is sweet ripe cherries. One dimensional. Easy drinking. Tasty. Nice finish. It retails for around $50. Drink over the next five years.
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Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has sweet plums, black cherries and sandal wood. Firm tannins. On the palate, black cherry pie. Delicious if ripe. Some heat. This is more of a cocktail wine to be drunk on its own. It will prove to be a difficult food match. Perhaps is settles down with some cellaring. Drink in the next five to be safe but who knows, it might last twenty.
Despite what you may think, Sideways didn't kill the California Merlot market as much as it made Pinot Noir stylish. There are still some fine Merlots being made. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has a nice chocolate covered cherry quality to it. Some spice as well. On the palate, this takes about thirty minutes of air to open and then drinks very well. It is more expressive (right now) on the palate with milk chocolate covered cherries and a nice vanilla streak. Not candied as much as liqueur notes. Good balance. Nice finish. This drinks very well on its own and would b
This is a former Wine Spectator Wine of the Year. It was nice to revisit this wine. It seems to be at peak and drinking as good as it will get. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cherries, spice, chocolate and dried cherries. On the palate, this is full bodied with a lush texture. Just a wisp of tannins. Layers of chocolate covered cherries and slight earth. Long finish. Food friendly. Certainly one of the best California Merlot's I have had. Even Miles from Sideways would like it. It still has five to ten years, at least, left if well stored.
This is one of those wines that tends to be served at parties, weddings, etc. And that's a good thing. For around $20 or less, this is a tasty wine. The nose has dark cherries and some spice. Easy drinking. Cherries and dark cherries. Nothing wrong here. Good value Merlot.
This is interesting. I normally prefer a Rose to be young (with a couple of important exceptions) but this still tasted youthful at 5 years from vintage. It is made from Merlot and a bit of Cabernet Franc. Orange/salmon pink in color, clear and bright. The nose has watermelons, strawberries and slight hay. On the palate, this is clean with just a touch of acidity. Cherries and strawberries. Nice finish. This will go with anything from a light salad to a burger or fowl.
