Reserve Horse Heaven Hills Merlot

It’s time for some #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Nose of cherries, plums, currants, strawberries, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, leather and black pepper. Gorgeous nose.

Full bodied and smooth with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, strawberries, currants, vanilla, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco, licorice, peppercorn, spices and light vegetables.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This is a great Merlot from Horse Haven Hills. Nicely balanced with a tangy ending.

This 8 year old is drinking very nicely, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Peaking now.

Tastes very much like a Napa Merlot. Very Nice.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the tannins.

Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheese plate and crackers.

Aged in French oak barrels.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$22.

Touch of pepper, some plum, sour cherries. Thin on the palate.

$15 Costco. Wonderful! Rich & velvety.

This Merlot is heavy and full bodied, with a jammy texture like a primo Lodi Zinfandel - plum and Bing cherry flavors prevail.

I'm not a fan of this. It tastes nothing like I expect merlot to be, even from Washington. The tannins are too much, even when opened for an hour. The fruit is too sour, the chocolate is too subdued and tiny. Other people say it's smooth but perhaps they have different palates than I.

Tannins overpower the plum and berry on the palate. Long but unremarkable finish. May improve with additional cellaring for next 3-5 years

PNP. Nice nose of fig, anise, cola and black cherry. Smooth fruit forward palate. Firm tannins on medium finish. Good QPR.

Not as interesting as I would have liked.

Very easy and drinkable. Inexpensive and good tannins. 2011 reserve

Great merlot! Dark fruits, very smooth mouth feel.