Napa County Merlot

Beautiful color. Well balanced. Drinks well now. Textbook merlot ( even Miles in Sideways would approve). ... half bottle.

First winery on day three traveling from Sonoma to Napa Valley was Pride Mountain Vineyards with Paul. First red wine is Merlot with fruit coming from both Sonoma (23%) and Napa (77%) Counties. This bottling is made up of 87.9% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 0.1% Petit Verdot. Aged separately for fourteen months in 40% new French oak barrels. 4,752 cases produced.

Deep ruby red with a bit of garnet and purple. Thick and aged dark nose with notes of red plums, anise, ground cinnamon, dark stewed red berries and bramble berries. Dry palate with medium plus tannins (7/10) and medium plus to full body. Dark gravel and dark bitter coca on the attack with some dark plus, cassis, black cherries and savory spices. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2027.

$$ - Tasted at the winery. Retail price is $62.00.

I hate to be so cliché, but this really is a cab lovers merlot. Delivers huge black/blue fruit, clove, silky tannins - a rich wine without being heavy or fruit bomb-ish. Paired perfectly with Magic Kingdom fireworks 🤪

Oak influence, dark fruits, spice and olive tapenade.

Nice full Merlot, nose sets you up for the lingering palette in a rioja oak style taste, loved it

My favorite Merlot! I knew 2015 would be too young for this wine, but when I saw it on the wine list at a very reasonable price, I could not resist.

Expressive aroma from the get-go with black berry, plum, cedar, red cherry, and hint of mint. Then comes dark chocolate, herbs, incense, and touch of smoke. Taste echoed the smell but with a sweet undertone. Firm and chewy tannins balanced by bright acidity. Very layered, complex, and structured.

For 2015 it was blended with unusually high 12% CS.

Nice visit at Pride yesterday on an overcast day. Some Cab and Merlot still hanging after the rain, but was told no worries for mold due to the mountaintop breezes. Bought and opened a bottle of the Merlot to enjoy with friends. Have had a few of these over the years, but never with less than about 7-10 years of age. This was ready to go on opening, but all rich blackberry fruit at this stage. A crowd pleaser but will take some time to show some nuance.

These are always good

Full body, yet light to drink with hints of raspberries, very easy on the palate

Big surprise! Haven’t tasted this wine in years and expected a much chewier texture, but was totally silky on the pallet. This is a delicious merlot and very approachable for its age.