Bonair

Merlot

9.09 ratings
8.82 pro ratings
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Merlot
Beef, Venison, Salami & Prosciutto, Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, Exotic Spices, Lamb, White Rice, Baking Spices, Herbs, Pasta, Chicken, Mushrooms, Pungent Cheese, Turkey, Tomato-Based, Soft Cheese, Pork, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

8.8

Too inky. Terrible label, good juice. $10 / 87pts

Too inky. Terrible label, good juice. $10 / 87pts

Jan 11th, 2014
Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

8.8

Kirsch cherry plums coffee and plenty dry. $10 / 88pts

Kirsch cherry plums coffee and plenty dry. $10 / 88pts

Nov 4th, 2013
Zachary Price

Friday night Merlot. Yakima valley, 12.5% alcohol - intriguing. Bonair has been making wine out of Rattlesnake Hills since 1985. An AVA of Yakima Valley (which is an AVA of Columbia Valley), since 2006, Rattlesnake Hills is well situated for sun, dryness (<10 inches rainfall per year), and silty-loam soils, that, if grown properly, grapes can be coaxed to produce excellent flavor. This wine was picked up for two reasons: (1) it was on sale, and (2) I need to keep drinking WA/OR wine since I live here now. Paired this with an arugula pesto pasta with a lemon-mascopone dressed salad - not the best pairing, but whatever. ~$12 | #yakimavalley
#merlot #bonair

On the eyes: Deep, inky, concentrated, ruby-magenta, med+ stain, med tears, no gas/floc.

On the nose: Black cherry, blueberry, black tea, hint of graham cracker, and vegetal notes (a bit sour, a bit green). Med- alcohol.

On the tongue: Heavy tannins, med alcohol, med+ acid, med+ body. Tart cherry, pomegranate, cedar, violets, white pepper, even a bit of cut grass. Nice delicate flavors that get destroyed by a big punch of tannin though. Drink with food - not a sipping wine.

Friday night Merlot. Yakima valley, 12.5% alcohol - intriguing. Bonair has been making wine out of Rattlesnake Hills since 1985. An AVA of Yakima Valley (which is an AVA of Columbia Valley), since 2006, Rattlesnake Hills is well situated for sun, dryness (<10 inches rainfall per year), and silty-loam soils, that, if grown properly, grapes can be coaxed to produce excellent flavor. This wine was picked up for two reasons: (1) it was on sale, and (2) I need to keep drinking WA/OR wine since I live here now. Paired this with an arugula pesto pasta with a lemon-mascopone dressed salad - not the best pairing, but whatever. ~$12 | #yakimavalley
#merlot #bonair

On the eyes: Deep, inky, concentrated, ruby-magenta, med+ stain, med tears, no gas/floc.

On the nose: Black cherry, blueberry, black tea, hint of graham cracker, and vegetal notes (a bit sour, a bit green). Med- alcohol.

On the tongue: Heavy tannins, med alcohol, med+ acid, med+ body. Tart cherry, pomegranate, cedar, violets, white pepper, even a bit of cut grass. Nice delicate flavors that get destroyed by a big punch of tannin though. Drink with food - not a sipping wine.

Mar 25th, 2017
Robin Wilber

I'm not much for reds but this wasn't too bad.

I'm not much for reds but this wasn't too bad.

Dec 25th, 2015
Anastasia Belozertseva

Perfect buttery red from Washington state.

Perfect buttery red from Washington state.

Aug 30th, 2015
Gayatri

Gayatri had this 6 years ago

Gayatri had this 6 years ago

Oct 7th, 2018
Marley Jarvis

Marley had this 6 years ago

Marley had this 6 years ago

Sep 1st, 2018
Kundai Chirindo

Kundai had this 9 years ago

Kundai had this 9 years ago

Mar 17th, 2016
Sintra Lewis

Sintra had this 10 years ago

Sintra had this 10 years ago

May 20th, 2014