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CHEESE PAIRING:
Brie
Camembert
Dubliner
Colby
Romano
Gorgozola Dolce
Pt. Reyes Blue |
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Much to the dismay of serious wine drinkers, Merlot became the media darling of the 1990s, prompting many vineyards to dig up less popular varietals for the easy to drink and pronounce Merlot. While many gallons of plonk were produced to meet sudden consumer demand, there is still a place for this over-exposed varietal. Now planted all over the world Merlot is not going anywhere and is still probably the most requested red wine in the US. The hard part is finding ones that are worth drinking. Currently, the best ones for the money are coming out of South America with Bordeaux and Napa scoring high on quality, as well as price. It was a Chilean Merlot that turned me on to red wine and for that I'm eternally grateful. Hopefully, I'll be wowed again someday, though I'm not holding my breath.
WHAT TO EXPECT: A medium colored wine with a low amount of tannin and acidity, which makes it easier to drink when young. On the palate are dark fruit flavors of black cherry, strawberry, fig and plum with occasional spicy, nutty and herbal notes. The hotter the climate the more fruit forward the wine will be. Most are merely fruit bombs with a velvety texture and very little complexity. If you don't want to think about what you're drinking this is the varietal for you.
HOT REGIONS: California, South America, Australia
COOL REGIONS: Bordeaux (St. Emilion & Pomerol), parts of Napa Valley, New Zealand and Italy.
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 | 2007 Cakebread Cellars Merlot, Napa, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2007 Montes Alpha Merlot, Colchagua Valley, Chile | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Chateau D'Aiguilhe Comtes de Neipperg, Bordeaux, France | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Chateau La Tour Figeac Grand Cru, St-Emilion, Bordeaux | RATING: *** |
| 2005 Chateau Souverain Merlot, Sonoma, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Dark Star Cellars Merlot, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Halter Ranch Merlot, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Sobon Family NOBOS Merlot, Sonoma, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2005 Swanson Vineyards Merlot, Sonoma, CA | RATING: *** |
| 2004 Buttonwood Farm Merlot, Santa Barbara, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2004 Chateau Quinalt "L'Enclos" Grand Cru, St. Emilion, Bordeaux | RATING: ** |
| 2004 Moonstone Cellars Merlot, Cambria, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2004 RiverStar Vineyards Merlot, Paso Robles, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2004 Sebastiani Vineyards Sonoma County Merlot, Sonoma, CA | RATING: ** |
| 2003 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot, Columbia Valley, WA | RATING: ** |
| 2003 Chateau Haut-Colombier Blaye, Bordeaux, France | RATING: *** |
| 2002 Monjardin Deyo Merlot, Navarra, Spain | RATING: * |
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**** Outstanding | *** Delicious | ** Enjoyable | * Drinkable
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