Fine Wines : Merlot

A pronounced spice-blackberry fragrance with a hint of vanilla leads into this wine's full-bodied, velvety palate with flavors of cassis and ripe berries, and notes of licorice and chocolate set in a supple yet firm structure.

Ripe berry, plum and bing cherry highlight a hint of cedar and vanilla. Soft tannins and subtle oak flavors balance the fruit while adding complexity. Medium bodied with a full, lingering finish.

Duckhorn Merlot Estate is huge and black, the tannin, oak, and fruit jammed together in a powerful depth. You can feel the tannins, sense the sweet ripeness of the fruit, and smell the oak. A remarkable wine, this blend of estate vineyards needs plenty of time in the cellar to relax and unfold.

The Wine Spectator Tightly wound and well-focused, with spicy blackberry, leather, anise, mocha and mineral flavors, finishing with a rich aftertaste and firm, integrated tannins. Drink now through 2009. 10,255 cases made. Score: 89. ‎James Laube, March 31, 2004.

The Carmody McKnight and El Pomar Junction Vineyards are two wonderful sites for Paso Robles Merlot. Despite hot, windy conditions during June of 2003, little berry shatter occurred and we were blessed with a large set of small-berried Merlot clusters which produced a deeply pigmented and flavorful wine.

Fruit was hand-harvested, inoculated with cultured yeast, fermented in separate lots, then pressed together prior to barreling down. We employed 50% new Trust Hungarian oak, and 50% two to three year-old Demptos and Seguin Moreau thin stave Chateau-style barrels to age the wine 18 months. Prior to bottling, we added 13% Cabernet Franc to lift the aromatics and firm the structure of the wine. This dark Merlot has aromas of anise seed, ripe berry, olive and cigar box spices. On the palate, the wine is tightly structured with moderately firm, persistent tannins. Enjoy with grilled or lightly smoked foods, barbecued meats and braised root vegetables.

This wine shows balance and is approachable and versatile, with soft tannins and plenty of concentration, deep color, and a long finish. A consistently good Merlot with a loyal following.

"Here is a Merlot with power and elegance, an intense, fruit-forward wine with the structure and balance to age. Mouthwatering aromas of black cherry, fresh thyme and sweet oak announce the wines dense fruit flavors. This Merlot finishes with smooth tannins and appealing oak spice, leaving a memorable impression." - Winemaker David Ready Jr. Diverse benchland and hillside vineyards in Alexander Valley give us Merlot grapes with rich texture and ripe, intense fruit flavor, as this wine demonstrates. This luscious wine also has excellent depth. Blending components of 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot, enhance the wines structure and complexity. The Merlot was aged 16 months in a combination of air-dried American and French oak, 35% new barrels. The lush fruit and sweet oak spice of this Merlot marry well with grilled duck breast, pasta with fresh tomato sauce and smoked sausage. Marinate a flank steak in a little Merlot and virgin olive oil; then grill over fruit wood delicious!

Selected wines from various California counties areblended to provide a Merlot with fresh, intense plum and cherry vanilla aroma. A full, round, ripe berry flavor accompanied by a rather soft, spicy finish make this wine particularly delectable.

Our 2004 Merlot displays all the attributes that make this variety so popular: bright aromas and flavors of smooth cherry, plum and strawberry with hints of cedar, black olive and spice‎supported by a supple texture with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. These qualities come from choice Central Coast Merlot grapes, with 9% Syrah for enhanced color and richness. The Central Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA), especially Monterey County, provides the temperate climate, cool breezes and moist alluvial soils in which Merlot thrives, developing ripe, fruity flavors while retaining good balancing acidity. We enhance the wine–s pure fruit flavors with just a hint of oak for roundness and complexity. Enjoy our 2004 Merlot with everything from wild mushroom pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, Cornish game hens and rosemary chicken to grilled beef and lamb shanks.

To some people, Merlot may seem like a new kid on the block. But at Rodney Strong Vineyards we've been growing it since the early 1970s, when Rod Strong first planted Merlot in Geyserville, the heart of the Alexander Valley.

Today, Rodney Strong farms over 100 acres in the Alexander Valley and the northern portion of the Russian River Valley. Together, these areas display the bright, red fruit character of the Russian River with the deep dark fruit flavors and mature tannins of the warmer Alexander Valley.

Plum and blueberry flavors predominate in this soft, rich, mouth filling Merlot, and are enhanced by aging in small oak barrels for a toasty, spicy vanilla character, and a lingering berry-cream finish. Drink this satisfying Merlot over the next 2 to 4 years.

Rombauer Vineyards– 2003 Napa Valley Merlot exhibits a ripe, juicy core of blueberry, plum, and black cherries that glide across the palate. Elegantly styled, this wine displays rich spice notes that highlight the fruit and add to the complexity of the wine. A full-bodied, round finish is accentuated with hints of cedar and vanilla.

The 2004 Merlot is rich purple, reflecting the vintage, and offers lush, focused flavors and aromas of bright cherries, strawberry, red and black plums, and cranberry. The Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine added strength, firm tannins and age-ability. Cabernet Franc brings in lovely fragrance with a hint of violets.

A rich purple-violet hue, the wine shows a rich, deep fruit concentration and jamminess. Hints of spice and toasty oak reflect vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cedar. The wine is bright and clear with a long full textured finish.

The grapes for Twomey Cellars come exclusively from the Soda Canyon Ranch in southeastern Napa Valley, where the rolling hills of volcanic soils are tightly planted with French Merlot clones selected for their low yield of small, intense berries. The shoots are trained vertically for optimal sun and air exposure. In this mild climate tempered by cool, foggy breezes, Merlot ripens slowly and develops rich black fruit character and extraordinary complexity.