Firestone Vineyard
Santa Ynez Valley Merlot
Santa Ynez Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
Surprisingly good Merlot for $6 at gross out.
Surprisingly good Merlot for $6 at gross out.
Jun 15th, 2019
Picked up this one at Albertsons on a lark and popped it a week ago. Firestone winery was the first estate winery on the now famous Foxen Canyon Trail, established in 1972. The Santa Ynez Valley offers gravelly loam with rocky subsoils that impart great mineralty and distinct finishes. You can drink this one now if you find it, but it should drink well for the next couple of years. Decant for a hour to enjoy it fully. ~$20 | #firestone #merlot #santaynezvalley
On the eyes: Opaque, Deep Rusty Ruby with Med Stained Tears. No Gas, Evidence of Tartaric Crystals.
On the nose: Very Heady Aromas of Big Stewed Cherry with Tobacco and Smoke, American Oak, Med Alcohol.
On the tongue: Med Acid, Med+ Alcohol, Med+ Tannin, Ripe Cherry and Mulberry rounded out with Cola, Tobacco, and Oak. Med+ Body, Med Complexity and Good Finish.
Picked up this one at Albertsons on a lark and popped it a week ago. Firestone winery was the first estate winery on the now famous Foxen Canyon Trail, established in 1972. The Santa Ynez Valley offers gravelly loam with rocky subsoils that impart great mineralty and distinct finishes. You can drink this one now if you find it, but it should drink well for the next couple of years. Decant for a hour to enjoy it fully. ~$20 | #firestone #merlot #santaynezvalley
On the eyes: Opaque, Deep Rusty Ruby with Med Stained Tears. No Gas, Evidence of Tartaric Crystals.
On the nose: Very Heady Aromas of Big Stewed Cherry with Tobacco and Smoke, American Oak, Med Alcohol.
On the tongue: Med Acid, Med+ Alcohol, Med+ Tannin, Ripe Cherry and Mulberry rounded out with Cola, Tobacco, and Oak. Med+ Body, Med Complexity and Good Finish.
Awesome!! Smooth & velvety
Awesome!! Smooth & velvety
1 person found it helpfulJan 12th, 2015
Great taste for the money....not usually a Merlot drinker. Firestone does Merlot well ;)
Great taste for the money....not usually a Merlot drinker. Firestone does Merlot well ;)
1 person found it helpfulJan 16th, 2014
Nice red to relax with, we drank it during movie night. Offers smooth finish with slight bitterness, dark fruit notes.
Nice red to relax with, we drank it during movie night. Offers smooth finish with slight bitterness, dark fruit notes.
Apr 10th, 2020Stewed fruits and pie on the nose. Nice mix of leather and fruit. Decent texture.
Stewed fruits and pie on the nose. Nice mix of leather and fruit. Decent texture.
Aug 4th, 2019Cherry, some tannin, cassis, dark notes. Very good.
Cherry, some tannin, cassis, dark notes. Very good.
Jun 26th, 2019
A savory nose of roasted red pepper and marinated black olives makes this wine from the Santa Ynez Valley’s first estate winery stand out from the crowd. There are green elements that some may consider unwanted, but the round, peppery spiciness makes for an intriguing, distinctive palate. This would go well with a New York strip and could stand up to prime rib with horseradish.
A savory nose of roasted red pepper and marinated black olives makes this wine from the Santa Ynez Valley’s first estate winery stand out from the crowd. There are green elements that some may consider unwanted, but the round, peppery spiciness makes for an intriguing, distinctive palate. This would go well with a New York strip and could stand up to prime rib with horseradish.
Solid Merlot. Not as good as their Chairman’s series but pretty damn tasty. Dark ruby color, allspice aromas, bourbon vanilla taste - too hot but still, what’s not to like?
Solid Merlot. Not as good as their Chairman’s series but pretty damn tasty. Dark ruby color, allspice aromas, bourbon vanilla taste - too hot but still, what’s not to like?
Apr 9th, 2018