#merlotthursday

Wood Family Vineyards

One Oak Vineyard Merlot 2017

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back! 


Pretty color of dark ruby with a wide reddish rim. 


Fruity nose with red and blue fruits, light wood, spices, coffee, earth, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, aluminum notes and black pepper. 


Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity. 


Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, herbs, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, spices, dark chocolates, light earth and peppercorn. 


Nice finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries. 


This is a very tasty Merlot from Livermore Valley in california. Much earthier right out of the bottle, and needed an hour to open up. A lot of red fruits come in after 2 hours of airtime. 


This Single Vineyard is fruit forward and rich. Tangy and interesting. A good quality wine. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. 


This 7 year old is showing nice complexity now. I had it 3 years ago, and it is drinking nicer now. Will not get any better, so drink up. 


Paired nicely with dried meats and crackers. 


100% Merlot grapes were aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. A tiny production of less than 1,700 bottles.


14% alcohol by volume.


90 points. 


$35.
— 5 days ago

Ted, Dawn and 7 others liked this

Château Quinault

L'Enclos St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

The nose is simpler than I expected right out of the bottle, but beautiful once it opens up.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black plums, cooked cherries, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, espresso, earth, light forest floor and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Merlot based blend from Bordeaux is drinking nicely now, and feels young, especially on the nose.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. I did not decant it and left it in the bottle. I was actually worried that it will die sooner, but it still has a lot in it. Love to see that. Only after 2 hours, the nose opened up and tannins showed up.

This 26 years old is easy drinking and good by itself or with food. I had the 2010 vintage, five years ago, and I liked it better this time.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Paired nicely with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$100.
— 2 months ago

Ted, Paul and 10 others liked this

Shiloh

Secret Reserve Merlot 2020

Shiloh Winery Secret Reserve Merlot 2020, Israel

It's time for some Merlot on this
#MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose of red and black fruits with wood, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, light vegetables and spices.

Full-bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward with nice complexity.

The palate is showing black plums, cherries, oak, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Nice tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Israel. Rich, yet subdued with lots of earth notes to compliment the fruits.

Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.

Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 3 hours in the decanter. Really worth the wait.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolves. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A little high in alcohol, so watch out as it is easy drinking. Loved the nose here, even at this early point.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Kosher and not Mevushal.

16% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.
— 3 months ago

Paul, Ron and 12 others liked this
Sharon B

Sharon B Influencer Badge

My answer to the sign in the background, No! 🤣
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

16%! Oof!
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

@Sharon B right? 😃

Mollydooker Wines

The Scooter Merlot 2020

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity.

Nice nose with red fruits, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice and peppercorn.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red currants, cherries, raspberries, earth, black coffee, bitter vegetables, light oak, spices, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

This Australian Merlot is drinking nicely now. Earthier than I expected it to be. Feels like a blend of new and old world.

Showing a soft and plush mouthfeel, and a bit bitter once it opens up.

Easy drinking and better after a couple of hours of airtime. Changes every 30 minutes in the decanter. Interesting.

I had a few different vintages years ago, and it is a completely different wine today.

Aged in American oak barrels. Vegan.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$30.
— 12 days ago

Shay, Diane and 13 others liked this

Freemark Abbey

Stagecoach Vineyard Merlot 2014

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

This 10 year old Merlot is delicious.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates, peppercorn, herbs and black tea.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Single Vineyard Merlot is elegant and robust. Drinking very nicely now, and probably at its peak. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, so be patient.

Tangy and engaging. Easy drinking and fruit forward.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70.
— a month ago

Scott@Mister, Doug and 14 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Yum yum yum!

Castello di Gabbiano

Cavaliere d'Oro Alleanza Toscana Merlot Blend 2016

Castello Di Gabbiano Cavaliere D'Oro Alleanza Toscana Red 2016, Italy

It's time for some Merlot on this
#MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Inky in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose with red and black fruits, oak, cloves, peppercorn and dark chocolates.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, light vanilla, herbs, black tea, peppercorn, chocolates and tobacco leaf.

Medium length on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old, Super Tuscan Merlot blend, is drinking very nicely now. Elegant and rich.

Nicely balanced, soft and complex, and feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Robert Parker 92 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon . Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50.
— 2 months ago

Paul, Jay and 17 others liked this

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Reserve Claret Sonoma County Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Sweet nose of red and black fruits with cedar, tobacco and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, bitter herbs, dark chocolates, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and black pepper.

Long finish with soft tannins and bitter herbs.

This is a delicious Merlot based Bordeaux blend from Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

This 11-year-old is drinking very nicely now. Elegant and rich. Complex and fruit forward.

Needs an hour of airtime to open up properly.

I Had the 2013 not too long ago, and it was better.

Robert Parker 98 points. Wine Spectator 93 points.

Good by itself and with food.

A blend of 66% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged in (40% new) French oak barrels for 22 months.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$135 (at release).
— 3 months ago

Tom, Severn and 17 others liked this

Château Canon Chaigneau

Lalande de Pomerol Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish brick rim.

Fruity nose with red and black fruits, chocolate notes and tobacco.

Dry on the palate and elegant, with nice complexity.

Showing black plums, cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, black tea, earth and black pepper.

Nice finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 9 year old Merlot from Bordeaux is drinking very nicely now. Fruit forward and elegant, with enough earth notes to compliment it.

Nicely balanced, soft and smooth.

This 2015 was a great vintage in Bordeaux, and it is showing. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 15 years.

A blend of 93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35.
— a month ago

Dawn, Lyle and 15 others liked this

Flint Knoll

Noble Right Proprietary Red 2021

Flint Knoll Winery Noble Right Proprietary Red 2021, Napa Valley, California

It is time for some Merlot on this
#MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby/ Inky in color with a short purplish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, chocolates, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth, vanilla, herbs and peppercorn.

Full-bodied, bold and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and very fruity with black plums, black cherries, currants, cedar, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, black pepper, earth and light vanilla.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Napa valley. Rich and extracted, yet elegant. Powerful and spicy.

Needs 3 hours in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient. The high alcohol is not too noticeable already.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years, and has good potential to become a 95+ point wine. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

A very pretty wine made by Philippe Melka. Complex and well-balanced already. So nice to see that.

Good by itself or with food, and will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 21 months in (75% new) French Oak barrels. A tiny production of only 4 barrels.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

93 points

$175.
— a month ago

Marc, Daniel P. and 12 others liked this

Larkmead Vineyards

Firebelle Napa Valley Merlot Blend 2014

Paul K
9.2

@"Odedi" doing the #merlotthursday and it’s a good one! — 3 months ago

Severn, Vanessa and 23 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Had that last week. Showing well at the beginning of its drinking window!
Paul K

Paul K

@Shay A I really like this wine and have rated higher in the past. Something different about this bottle. It didn’t have the elements and structure of others in the past. Thinking I just had an off night 🤔 got a few more left. How long would u estimate on life?
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Paul K : ‘14s have been great since they were released. Lots of early pleasure. I still think ‘14s have a solid 5-7yrs of primary flavors, before trending toward a secondary flavor profile. Larkmead makes structured wines, so I think that’s good to hold a while.