Jason Stephens Winery
Estate Merlot
Santa Clara Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from California.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Pretty nose with blueberries, black currants, plums, cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, light vegetables and vinaigrette.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, vanilla, earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco, graphite and dark coffee.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cranberries.
This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Santa Clara Valley in California. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
I've had this vintage before, and it is showing somewhat differently now, with more blue and black fruits. I'd like to see how it evolves in the next few years.
Needs an hour to open up properly and show tannins and structure.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and olives. Goes really nicely with an aged Brie.
A blend of 85% Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$24.
It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from California.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Pretty nose with blueberries, black currants, plums, cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, light vegetables and vinaigrette.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, vanilla, earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco, graphite and dark coffee.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cranberries.
This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Santa Clara Valley in California. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
I've had this vintage before, and it is showing somewhat differently now, with more blue and black fruits. I'd like to see how it evolves in the next few years.
Needs an hour to open up properly and show tannins and structure.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and olives. Goes really nicely with an aged Brie.
A blend of 85% Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$24.
Time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a great Merlot from California.
A pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish/ burgundy rim.
Great nose of cherries, blueberries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf, earth and mocha.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, raspberries, light vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, leather, earth, peppercorn, pencil lead and red candy.
Nice length on the finish with tangy pomegranates and round tannins.
This is a nice surprise. This 5 year old Merlot from Santa Clara Valley in California is drinking very nicely now. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.
Needs an hour to open up properly and come to its own.
At some point the nose reminded me of a Napa Cabernet, as it changed in the glass every 10 minutes, which was a wonderful experience, as I got to taste different wines in the same glass 😉
Would age nicely in the next 3 to 5 years.
I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.
A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. Aged for 36 months in oak barrels (25% New).
14.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$24.
Time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a great Merlot from California.
A pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish/ burgundy rim.
Great nose of cherries, blueberries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf, earth and mocha.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with cherries, sweet strawberries, raspberries, light vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, leather, earth, peppercorn, pencil lead and red candy.
Nice length on the finish with tangy pomegranates and round tannins.
This is a nice surprise. This 5 year old Merlot from Santa Clara Valley in California is drinking very nicely now. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.
Needs an hour to open up properly and come to its own.
At some point the nose reminded me of a Napa Cabernet, as it changed in the glass every 10 minutes, which was a wonderful experience, as I got to taste different wines in the same glass 😉
Would age nicely in the next 3 to 5 years.
I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.
A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. Aged for 36 months in oak barrels (25% New).
14.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$24.
Baked plums and dark leather on the nose. Full bodied, not a ton of acid. Velvety. Hints of earth and and fresh red apple skin. This 2009 is drinking well. Delightful!
Baked plums and dark leather on the nose. Full bodied, not a ton of acid. Velvety. Hints of earth and and fresh red apple skin. This 2009 is drinking well. Delightful!
May 19th, 2018
Was a vintage sale, $5 per bottle for a case I believe. Very respectable for that price, nice nose of a mocha (chocolate/coffee) with a nice cassis fruit note on the front end of the palate with medium acidity and a nice long finish.
Was a vintage sale, $5 per bottle for a case I believe. Very respectable for that price, nice nose of a mocha (chocolate/coffee) with a nice cassis fruit note on the front end of the palate with medium acidity and a nice long finish.
1 person found it helpfulJun 16th, 2014
Huge value and big full throttled lushiness (made that up)
Huge value and big full throttled lushiness (made that up)
Feb 19th, 2015Talking to Jason Stephens right now :)
Talking to Jason Stephens right now :)
Feb 13th, 2015
A merlot that truly drinks like a cab. Big, bold, dry, heavy tannins, this is a must buy for sure!
A merlot that truly drinks like a cab. Big, bold, dry, heavy tannins, this is a must buy for sure!
Jul 27th, 2014Deep Ruby red and black fruit. Showing some heat with plush forgiving tannins, good acid for decent length, developed nose showing on the palate; dark fruit, plum, cocoa with just a hint of vanilla in the finish, drink now.
Deep Ruby red and black fruit. Showing some heat with plush forgiving tannins, good acid for decent length, developed nose showing on the palate; dark fruit, plum, cocoa with just a hint of vanilla in the finish, drink now.
Mar 31st, 2016
Such a wonderful wine and amazing value!
Such a wonderful wine and amazing value!
Mar 5th, 2016