Made By James

San Lucas Estate Vineyard Merlot

9.18 ratings
9.21 pro ratings
Monterey County, Central Coast, California, 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
Tree Kilpatrick

Simple label to go with what the ‘winemaker’s statement’ says is a less is more approach to letting the grapes 🍇 express themselves. Lovely color in the glass. Crimson. Slightest of rust on the edge. Aroma is less fruit driven and more earthy. Bit of drying summer soil with classic Bordeaux red bittersweet berry streak. Flavors are musky and clean. Some roasted sweet peppers 🫑 of all colors and tart cherry. Smoke and herbaceous plant stems too. For a 14.5%ABV wine that I’d assume was left to get pretty ripe, this has nice balance and plenty of juiciness instead of the plump vanilla-toffee tones of so many CA over-oaked reds. This is a nice Merlot from Monterrey.

Simple label to go with what the ‘winemaker’s statement’ says is a less is more approach to letting the grapes 🍇 express themselves. Lovely color in the glass. Crimson. Slightest of rust on the edge. Aroma is less fruit driven and more earthy. Bit of drying summer soil with classic Bordeaux red bittersweet berry streak. Flavors are musky and clean. Some roasted sweet peppers 🫑 of all colors and tart cherry. Smoke and herbaceous plant stems too. For a 14.5%ABV wine that I’d assume was left to get pretty ripe, this has nice balance and plenty of juiciness instead of the plump vanilla-toffee tones of so many CA over-oaked reds. This is a nice Merlot from Monterrey.

Jan 8th, 2023
Johanna Peterson

Amazing! Just what I love about a merlot. Earthy and complex flavors
Wish I had bought several bottles! Hint of dry but fruity too

Amazing! Just what I love about a merlot. Earthy and complex flavors
Wish I had bought several bottles! Hint of dry but fruity too

May 7th, 2022
Dimes

It’s nice but tastes like a Zin

It’s nice but tastes like a Zin

Apr 21st, 2022
R o b M.

About as good as it gets for me with Merlot. Smooth with great body.

About as good as it gets for me with Merlot. Smooth with great body.

Aug 29th, 2020
Neal Ferry

Great Name....Good Wine; 85 points

Great Name....Good Wine; 85 points

Feb 1st, 2020
Joe Hawn

Smoother not a lot of deep flavors kinda flavorless and goes down smooth

Smoother not a lot of deep flavors kinda flavorless and goes down smooth

Sep 7th, 2019
Andrew Plant

Andrew had this 5 years ago

Andrew had this 5 years ago

Oct 16th, 2019
Trevor Frederick

Trevor had this 4 years ago

Trevor had this 4 years ago

May 5th, 2021
K K
8.9

K had this 4 years ago

K had this 4 years ago

May 1st, 2021
James Lewis

James had this 5 years ago

James had this 5 years ago

Jan 15th, 2020