Tag Archives: merlot

Dusky Sounds Merlot 2011

29 Friday Nov 2013

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I don’t believe I have tasted a New Zealand Merlot, so this was a new one for me.  It was slightly pale in the glass and had an almost Pinot looking hue to it.  On the nose, some cherry and cranberry notes were detected.  On the the palate it was very modern in style with Kirsch and cranberry flavors.  Not overly dry, it had some decent acidity and was rather refreshing.  I am not sure of the typicity to region, but it was an interesting twist on Merlot.  I shall have to taste more of the varietal from there to get a baseline.  This bottle was on special for $9 but usually costs $18.  A crowd pleaser because it was easy to drink and different.  87 points from me and 3 stars.  Salut….

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Wolf Blass Red Label Cabernet Merlot 2012

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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This is the third varietal in the Red Label series that I have tried from Wolf Blass.  Cabernet and Merlot blended together are one of my go-to combos.  This wine rolled in at $20 for two 1 liter bottles, do the math.  It’s a very reasonably priced wine that everyone enjoyed.  Easy to drink with raspberry and red currants on the palate and a red fruity nose.  Built for pop-n-pour, it offers no complexity and no associated stuffiness.  The tannins are slight and the acidity very gentle making it very versatile for pairing.  I think this would be an awesome party wine and believe it is widely available.  86 points and 4 stars for this one.  Salut….

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Tilia Merlot 2012

18 Monday Nov 2013

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Can you say QPR?  In essence, when taking cost into account this wine is a must try.  I paid $9 for it and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Reminiscent of right bank Bordeaux, the Merlot was round, fleshy and tasted of plums, chocolate and red berry.  A certain earthiness came though and the tannins were slight but present.  I found this wine to be a great basic wine with no faults and loads to offer.  We drank it pre-dinner and I reckon it would go well with pasta, steaks and pizza.  Not for cellaring, buy it by the dozen in case a party erupts, everyone will love it.  88 points and 5 stars from me for this Argentinian gem.  Salut….

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Mollydooker ‘The Scooter’ 2010

15 Friday Nov 2013

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I love it when a food and wine pairing hits all cylinders.  Moxie, my little cavewoman treated us to a Bison dish with garlic, ginger, green beans and Rainbow Chard.  If you have never tried Bison, it’s a rather bland meat that takes well to marinade but is rather dry on the palate.  Chard is a very crunchy yet bitter leafy vegetable that I have been totally digging lately.  I needed something soft, somewhat sweet and not too tannic to balance the main components.  Enter The Scooter.  If you missed my last few posts, I am on a mission to taste the whole Mollydooker lineup.  This one happens to be a Merlot that hides its 15.5% alcohol in a remarkable fashion.  Albeit  over the 2 year requirement for the MD Shake, I performed it anyway.

Bison with Green Beans and Chard

Bison with Green Beans and Chard

The wine is dark purple in the glass and gave off currant and blueberry on the nose. The initial attack had Blackcurrant, Pomegranate and blue jam.  The currant and blue notes hit mid palate.  The wine displayed a certain sweetness that I noticed in ‘The Two Left Feet’.  Juicy acidity was perfectly suited to the pairing and the tannins were slight, which was the perfect due to the dryness of the Bison.  The bitterness of the Chard was offset by the sweetness of the wine and the whole package melded greatly for me.  It very approachable and is delivering a juicy, fruity wine that is sure to please any discerning palate.  For $22 this is a veritable steal and gets 90 points from me making it a 5 star wine.  If you live near me, sorry- I snagged all they had at the shops.  Seriously, get some if it comes across your radar, you won’t be sorry.  Salut….

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Havens Bourriquot Napa Valley 2010

07 Monday Oct 2013

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I was not sure of the blend when I decided to pair this Napa red with some serious Ribeye steaks.  I thought I was getting a tannic Cab Sav, which is what I wanted.  Instead, I ended up with a multi dimensional blend, mainly Cabernet Franc with Merlot balancing it out.  Absolutely delicious is what it was.  You may recall that I have a soft spot for the Franc, but this is a seriously complex wine that offered up Plums and Blueberry on the nose.  The first wave was Pomegranate, red berries and a touch of oak.  Later, I was getting dark berry and currants with some back end tannins that were sublime.  The structure of this wine is fantastic, balanced and built for medium term cellaring.  The tannins are all concentrated on the finish, making this an easy drinker.  The long ending is a dry mouth-puckering event that lasted for ever.  I think I would pair this again with any grilled meat, perhaps even roast chicken.  The fruit is so evident and layered that the wine is Chameleon-like and can adapt to many dishes.  I bet this wine would rock a Moroccan Tagine dish of Lamb and stewed fruits with couscous.  Priced at $50, it is rather a ‘treat’ wine, but I would be guessing a 92 point rating is appropriate.  I am giving it 4 stars because it is so interesting, complex and offers gratification from today until 2020 at the very least.  Salut….

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Chateau Marjosse 2010

03 Thursday Oct 2013

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I have committed wine infanticide again.  Way too young and a shame to waste a decent bottle of wine. From the Entre Deux Mers Appelation in Bordeaux comes this  Merlot based  wine.  It was very subdued on the nose, giving few hints of what was to come.  I have found many clarets tend to go through a ‘dumb’ phase and go into hibernation.  I believe that to be the case here.  On the palate, hiding behind a cloak of mouth coating tannins was a very smoky plum component with some graphite.  Blueberry and Vanilla flavors came along after the bottle had been opened for a while.  Good acidity coupled with the tannins make this wine cellar-worthy  I would not even approach it again until 2015.  I believe this to be a well made wine that I got for $17, but right now it is not giving pleasure.  Technically speaking it could be an 89 point wine, but I am going to give it 3 stars.  If you can get some bottles to lay down, I am sure it will turn out to be a treat.  If I were at home, I would have run it through the Vinturi, trying to coax the fruit out one way or another.  Salut….

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De Martino Estate Merlot 2010

15 Sunday Sep 2013

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Sticking with Chilean Merlot, this one was the third in our tasting and runs at about $14.  A more concentrated wine, with plum and raspberry notes melding with some nice oak and spice.  Very easy to drink, it had the right balance of acidity and a nice tannin framework.  The finish was decent and enticed me to take another sip.  This wine is drinking well now and can be short-term cellared.  I would drink this with pasta, perhaps veal chops and definitely some shish kebabs.  4 stars and 88 points.  Salut….

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Valle Dorado Merlot 2011

15 Sunday Sep 2013

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From the Echeverria winery comes this Chilean Merlot priced at around $10.  Very Merlot-like and typical of the region.  Plummy, with currants and oak in the nose and  palate.  Not very complex, but for the price it’s a nice wine.  Good structure and easy to drink.  This was our second bottle in the tasting and was far better than the first.  I would drink this wine casually, but can’t seem to pinpoint an ideal pairing.  If you enjoy Merlot, try it.  85 points and 3 stars.

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Virginie Thunevin 2009

04 Wednesday Sep 2013

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I’m starting to sound like a broken record….. 2009 Bordeaux has got to be one of the finest vintages ever made, anywhere. This bottle is no exception. For $16, you get a good dose of red berry and spice on the nose. It caresses the mouth with great ripe tannins, berry, spice and cedar. A tad young as the tannic component is still in the forefront, but not obtrusive. Good balance and a long finish. This wine reminds me a lot of the Carpe Diem I just drank. Very juicy, bold and mouthwatering. Based mainly on Merlot, Cab Sav and Cab Franc are in the blend a’ la Right Bank. I forgot to mention this Domaine’s heritage: Jean Luc Thunevin of Bordeaux fame created this wine alongside his much pricier “Garagiste” wines and his talents really show. I found out that WS gave it 89, I’m going 91 and for the money—-5 stars baby. You can’t go wrong with this wine, it should last at least until 2018. Salut….

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Murrieta’s Well ‘Los Tesoros’ Merlot 2010

02 Monday Sep 2013

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Served on a Virgin America flight. I was pleasantly surprised, after it had a chance to breath that is. Initially, overly tannic and sharp. Once I gave it 30 minutes, very smooth and tasty- with plums and chocolate mixing it up with a eucalyptus tinge . The initial surge of dryness let up and mellowed to a delightful framework of mouth coating tannins and balanced acidity. I got nothing on the nose because it was served in a plastic cup, on a pressurized airplane. The finish, lingering. I had to upgrade my initial thoughts- this is a 90 point wine and 4 stars…. delicious. If you like Metlot , go for it! Salut….

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