Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Category Archives: Merlot
Luna Merlot 2006
Luna, Napa Valley, Merlot 2006 The nose features sweet oaky notes and black fruit. In the mouth the black fruits come through with cherries too. The suppleness of Merlot that most consumers seek is on full display in a light-bodied … Continue reading
Left Bank Bordeaux
Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2006 The nose of this wine features a strong whiff of smoky oak and leather with red fruits and sweet tobacco. In the mouth, the fruit comes alive, with fresh berries and dried cranberries and the accent … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Margaux, Merlot, Saint-Julien
Tagged Branaire-Ducru, Chateau Giscours
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La Conseillante 2007
Chateau La Conseillante, Pomerol 2007 Toasty, smoky oak meets blueberries and crushed leaves in the nose. In the mouth you’ll find an approachable wine, with ripe tannins, lots of black fruit, complementary leather and lingering acidity – very nice. The … Continue reading
United States Bordeaux blends 2006
Kendall-Jackson, Knights Valley, Highland Estates, Trace Ridge, Red Wine 2006 Unfortunately this bottle is corked. The grapes behind this wine are 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. The wine was aged for 19 months in French oak, … Continue reading
Smith Haut Lafitte 2006
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 2006 The smells in the nose include raspberries, cherries, leather and the sweetness and toastiness of oak. In the mouth it is earthy and smoky, exhibiting complexity and a supple texture – very approachable. The … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Graves, Merlot, Pessac-Leognan
Tagged Smith Haut Lafitte
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Justin Justification 2006
Justin Vineyards & Winery, Paso Robles, Justification 2006 The nose features crushed leaves, black fruits, cookie dough with vanilla and sweet tobacco. In the mouth it is quite structured, tight at this point, just a baby. Yet the fruit is … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Franc, California, Merlot, Paso Robles
Tagged Justin Vineyards & Winery
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Ariel Merlot 2007
Ariel, Dealcoholized, Merlot 2007 Simple and light-bodied. Made and bottled by J. Lohr in San Jose. Contains less than one half of one percent alcohol by volume, purchased for $6.49 at Bottle Barn Ariel Vineyards
Chateau Puy Arnaud Cotes de Castillon 2005
Chateau Puy Arnaud, Cotes de Castillon 2005 The oak makes its presence known when you smell this wine. In the mouth the full ripeness of the fruit comes through, with ample concentration and plenty of structure – a solid value … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cotes de Castillon, France, Merlot
Tagged Chateau Puy Arnaud, Maureze
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Jayson Napa Valley Red 2005
Jayson, Napa Valley, Red 2005 This Bordeaux-style blend is opulently fruity and imminently approachable – no need to let this dawdle in the cellar. Our good friend Richard Trost brought this to dinner last night and we enjoyed it with … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Merlot, Napa Valley
Tagged Pahlmeyer
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Napa Valley Rutherford Reds
Trinchero Winery, Napa Valley, Rutherford, Chicken Ranch Vineyard, Merlot 2005 Give the wine a bit of air for 10 minutes or so to blow off a bit of funk. Then the plummy fruit combines with the wet forest floor and … Continue reading
Pride Merlot 2007
Pride Mountain Vineyards, 56% Sonoma County, 44% Napa County, Merlot 2007 In the nose you’ll find tons of sweet oak and brown spices. In the mouth it is very smooth, suppleness defined, while at the same time very dense and … Continue reading
Posted in California, Merlot, Napa Valley, Sonoma County
Tagged Pride Mountain Vineyards
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The wines of Newton Vineyard
Winemaker Chris Millard had an opportunity to visit with our Napa Valley class to describe the wines that he is crafting at Newton. On top of the mountain overlooking St. Helena, he has an extraordinary amount of fruit to select … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Merlot, Napa Valley
Tagged Newton Vineyard
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Kendall-Jackson Stature 2001
Kendall-Jackson, Napa Valley, Stature 2001 There’s a nice ripe structure to this wine, giving it chewiness and the acidity to frame the still quite youthful fruit – nice. The grapes behind this Bordeaux blend are about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon and … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Napa Valley
Tagged Kendall-Jackson
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Pope Valley Merlot 2006
Pope Valley Winery, Napa Valley, Eakle Ranch, Merlot 2006 The nose if full of oak and chocolate. In the mouth the wine is supple with plummy fruit and plenty of acidity to make it a refreshing – an elegant wine. … Continue reading
Chateau Saint-Pierre 2005
Chateau Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien 2005 This is pleasure in a glass, ripeness of fruit, great density yet rounded off edges. The structure supports the density of flavor while the acidity carries the flavor a long way – very nice. The estate … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Saint-Julien
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Chateau Gloria 2005
Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 2005 There’s a nice smoky essence in the nose while in the mouth you’ll find cranberries and dark chocolate. This wine is quite chewy and would certainly benefit from 6-8 years in the cellar. The estate is … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Saint-Julien
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Newton Unfiltered Merlot 2002
Newton, Napa Valley, Unfiltered, Merlot 2002 In the nose you’ll find chocolate, the beginnings of nuttiness and a little spike of alcohol. The palate is a soft expression of fresh and raisined fruits laced with brown spices. Produced and bottled … Continue reading
Posted in California, Merlot, Napa Valley
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Robert Sinskey POV 2006
Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Napa Valley, POV, Red Wine 2006 This wine features a bevy of fresh blueberries and a complementary dusting of oak; it’s light-bodied with ripe tannins and a healthy acidity to encourage consumtion with a roasted pork tenderloin, … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Merlot, Napa Valley
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Grgich Hills Merlot 2004
Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Merlot 2004 There’s lots of plummy fruit in the nose. In the mouth you’ll find the characteristic Merlot suppleness, with nice density, a healthy kiss of oak and a lingering creaminess. The grapes for … Continue reading
Posted in California, Merlot, Napa Valley
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embruix de Vall Llach 2005
Vall Llach, Priorat DOQ, Embruix 2005 The nose features a sweetness, black fruits with blackberry jam. In the mouth the sweet theme continues, with very ripe, jammy fruit, density yet suppleness, warmth, a bit of tannin and lowish acidity, a … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Priorat, Spain, Syrah
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Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2009 Bordeaux stars
Spragia Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Home Ranch, Merlot 2006 The nose features a strong blast of fresh oak. In the mouth that note carries through, with plummy fruit, a little warmth and a supple texture. V&B in St. Helena … Continue reading
Biserno Insoglio del cinghiale 2006
Tenuta di Biserno, Toscana, Insoglio del cinghiale IGT 2006 There’s a sense of France in this wine from Tuscany, with black fruit, an herbaceous edge and tannic grip. The grapes are Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This winery is shepherded … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, Italy, Merlot, Tuscany
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Frostwatch Merlot 2006
Frostwatch, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County, Merlot 2006 Sweet toasty oak complements the plummy fruit in the nose. In the mouth this wine delivers ripe Merlot, with the tannins fully developed, a warm and plush texture and a toasty oak accent … Continue reading
Posted in Bennett Valley, California, Merlot, Sonoma County
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2004 Napa Bordeaux Blends
Franciscan, Napa Valley, Magnificat 2004 This wine exudes sweet ripe fruit in the nose. This profile follows through in the mouth with chalky tannins and lingering acidity. Produced and bottled in Rutherford 14.5% $50 at the winery for the latest … Continue reading
Post Familie Merlot nv
Post Familie, American, Merlot nv There’s a lively pluminess in the glass when you smell this wine. In the mouth there’s plenty of fruit as well, with a healthy dose of acidity making this a natural with food. You can … Continue reading
Posted in American, Merlot
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Chateau Aux Arc Dragonfly Red
Chateau Aux Arc, American, Dragonfly Red nv The nose speaks of sweet oak while in the mouth this wine is smooth and light with a little warmth. Some of the fruit came from the estate’s Dragonfly Ranch, supplemented by imports … Continue reading
Posted in American, Arkansas, Merlot, Zinfandel
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Chateau Lascombes 2005
Chateau Lascombes, Margaux 2005 This wine is super toasty in the nose with hints of dark chocolate and cassis. The mouth is quite structured urging a good 10 years and more in the cellar, yet already the black fruit is … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot
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Rubissow Wines
We had a great visit to Rubissow with our Wines of California & Europe class on the first day of August. I’ll post the notes on the estate next week but in the meantime here are two of their stars. … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Merlot, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley
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Ceago Vinegarden
Like Rosenblum Cellars on the San Francisco Bay, you can literally arrive by boat when you visit Ceago Vinegarden. The estate takes its name from a Pomo Indian word and is pronounced in the same way as Diego. It is … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Clear Lake, Lake County, Mendocino County, Merlot
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Smith Haut Lafitte 2005
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 2005 The nose smells of leather, earth, smokiness, horse blanket and a host of descriptors that get at a sense of brettanomycees as complexity rather than a flaw. That said, I know that this level … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pessac-Leognan
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