Napa Valley Merlot

Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruits, oak and spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, raspberry and plum with cacao, vanilla and spicy herb notes. Fine tannins, medium finish ending with juicy fruit, toasty oak and herb spice character. Nice, drinking well now!

Good fruit but overoaked. Decanted 24 hours to try to save it, questionable attempt, I know. Plum aroma, raspberry and candy cherry flavor. Call it salvaged

This is a shiner of 2009 merlot from the winery. Cedar, plum, cardamom. Hint of saddle. Great balance, acid, fruit. Tasting perfect.

Here is my Thursday's Merlot fix.

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, cherries, licorice, cedar, vanilla, tobacco, cloves, spices, chocolates, smoke, mocha, earth, peppercorn and leather.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, currants, cedar, leather, licorice, vegetables, pencil lead, vanilla, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke and earth.

Medium plus in finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Napa Merlot is always enjoyable. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Drinking very nicely now and will continue in the next 5 to 7 years.

Needs an hour to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$20.

It is Merlot Thursday! This week is a nice one from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black plums, cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vegetables, vanilla, spices, toast, cola, chocolates, dark coffee, pencil lead, cloves, mint and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, wood, vegetables, coffee, vanilla, bitter herbs, spices, diet coke, green vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium plus in finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Napa Merlot is drinking nicely now with a nice mouthfeel. Well balanced with good complexity.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 90 minutes of airtime in a decanter. After 2 hours, it becomes very spicy with cola and dark coffee notes. I believe it will get even better in the next few years.

A blend of 86% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petite Sirah. Wine Spectator 89 points.

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

14.2% alcohol by volume.



$18.

This is one of my favorite winery's. Their Merlot is Cabernet like, it actually has a lingering finish. Great notes of cherry and oak.

I am not a big merlot fan but the rating on the Markham lives up to it and it's a great value. Vanilla and fruit. Another few years would show even more flavor.

Modern but well-balanced; unexciting. Taking on a bit of a leathery note with the plush fruit and spicy oak. Velvety tannins. Missing something on the finish.

Best merlot ever. Smooth vanilla from the oak. Not too heavy and not too light. Very nice wine!

Very smooth and drinkable