Tag Archives: $46

Merryvale Merlot 2007, revisited

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Back in January I discovered two bottles of this Napa Merlot blend.  I opened the first and was horrified by the state of the cork. I wrote about the wine and promised a re-taste.  Yesterday was our first real day of Spring weather, so I got the patio sorted out, cleaned the Weber and decided to open the Merryvale to go along with marinated Flank steak.  It was a glorious evening and a great precursor to the Game of Thrones season opener, bliss.

I was right, this is a damn good wine.  Forget what you saw in the movies, Merlot is a great wine and so is Chardonnay.  Merlot is highly adaptable, smooth, makes a good blend and has the stuffing to cellar for years.  It offers a softer side to Cabernet Sauvignon but has the grace to make it’s own name (Think Chateau Petrus plus the majority of St. Emilions and Right Bank of Bordeaux.)  It is blended in the this bottling with a touch of two other noble grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

I immediately got plums and currants on the nose which is way better than the last bottle.  A full bodied attack of black berries and plums was simply delicious.  This wine is rich and gorgeous with great tannins rounding out the damson and earth finish.  Good acidity give this wine the balance I was hoping for along with the great mouthfeel.  I’m bumping it up to 91 points and for $46 it is a 4 star effort.  Salut….

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Spring, glorious spring....

Spring, glorious spring….

Merryvale Merlot Napa Valley 2007

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

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Several points about this wine.  Firstly, I don’t remember buying it, or the second bottle I found in my ‘to drink’ rack.  Perhaps one of my mates brought them over for Thanksgiving when I was not here yet Moxie has no recollection of this occurring.  Oh well, free booze is free booze.

Secondly, the cork on bottle #1 was badly stained, never a good sign.  I sliced the second one open to see, it is safe.  So…. I will write based on the fact that I suspect this wine to be flawed, which is a shame considering it’s heritage, reputation and price.

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As you can see, pretty grim on the left side.  I shall endeavor to open the other one soon so I have a fresh recollection.   Anyway, back to the details.  Mostly Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc make this more of a Right Bank blend which excites me.  The wine is inky dark in the glass and unfortunately had a slightly oxidized nose of plums and blackberry.  On the palate I was in for a surprise.  The wine had survived nearly intact.  Big juicy black berries and dark plums with a deft addition of the wood and some spices make this a full-on wine of great depth.  The tannic structure is great with some dryness on the back end, right where it should be. I did not sense any imbalance but did notice a slight oxidized note on the finish.  I am lucky this bottle showed so well, now if only I could find it’s source!  I am giving a provisional 90 points and found it online for about $46.  Potentially a 4 star wine for me, we shall have to wait for the re-taste to confirm.  Salut….

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Domaine Louis Latour Corton Grand Cru 2007

09 Wednesday Oct 2013

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If you have read my rather lengthy post about the Paleo Diet, this is the wine that I mentioned.  It was overcome by the Collard Greens I prepared as they are very pungent.  I left it alone for a while and had a revisit once dinner was over.

2007 was not a stellar Burgundian vintage so I was taking a chance on this wine.  I have had this negociant’s wines before and have been very pleased so I took the punt and dove into it.  Burgundy is never cheap, so at about $46 this is a stretch for most.  I just happened across it at a better price.

Textbook in color, smell and flavor profile.  Cherry, earth and strawberry are the initial flavors.  Very smooth texture, but a hint of tannin sneaks in.  You may recall that I have a hard time discerning this component in Pinot Noir.  At six years of age, it is still primal in fruit makeup and has not taken on any secondary flavors.  I doubt that it will.  Never mind, it is a tasty wine that is giving me lots of enjoyment, its finesse is amazing and the cherry component exquisite.  I can take a guess that it could last another 10 years in the cellar but will it improve?  Drinking nicely now I reckon it is a 90 pointer.  I give it 3 stars for the QPR (Quality Price Ratio) but don’t let that stop you.  This company produces consistent wines and if you want a foray into Burgundy, they will provide solid footing- at a price.  Salut….

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