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Consuming Merlot, having enjoyable…
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October is Merlot Month and, paradoxically, additionally the twentieth anniversary of the wine-centric film Sideways – a movie that reverberated throughout the wine business, inflicting Merlot gross sales to plummet. Many wine lovers would argue that Merlot wanted such a correction; the varietal was overproduced, blah and unremarkable. A lot has modified in 20 years as devoted winemakers have nursed Merlot’s status again to glory. At this time’s expressions are silky, structured and beneficiant—reminding us why Merlot is a varietal to be cherished. Clay Mauritson, winemaker for Mauritson Wines describes Merlot as, “a gateway drug to different wines; it’s tannins are softer and the fruit is correct there.” Randy Ullom head winemaker at Kendall-Jackson argues that Merlot isn’t solely scrumptious, however fairly versatile, “it’s nice alone, blended with different Bordeaux varieties, and as a blender to melt Cabernet. It has gotten a foul rap over time, however it’s on an incredible comeback.” Certainly, says Ullom, “Merlot as an incredible steppingstone wine,” transferring new wine drinkers and curious palates from Pinot Noir into much more complicated wines. Stepping stone or gateway drug, when you aren’t consuming Merlot, you might be lacking out. Right here’s an inventory that includes Merlot wines from Spain, Italy, Virginia, France and the US to get you began:
ITALY/Gradis’ciutta Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 2018: 100% Merlot from Italy’s northern Friuli-Venezia area (well-known for it’s minerally whites.) This succulent expression has a palate of darkish cherries and blue-fruit notes. Moody and harmonious with a touch of rose petal, it’s a scrumptious wine to sip or pair with roasted hen. $24.99
Tenuta Luce, Lucente Toscana IGT, 2022: A silky, seductive mix of Merlot and Sangiovese from Tuscany’s Montalcino area. Notes of darkish virtually bitter cherry and violets on the palate give method to a fantastically balanced wine with a lingering end of cassis and heat spices. $37
SPAIN/Finca La Capilla, Ribera del Duero Crianza Castilla y Leon, 2020: This Spanish Merlot is harvested from an property within the coronary heart of the Ribera del Duero—it’s wealthy and intense with ripe black fruit and a full-bodied complexity that lends itself to ageing. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels and between 16 and 20 months in bottle. $24.99
FRANCE/Domaines Comte de Malet Roquefort Château Chapelle d’Aliénor Bordeaux Supérieur 2019: Comprised of a mix of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this wine is a good worth with its juicy ripe-fruited deliciousness. $21.99
Croix Canon St Emilion Grand Cru, 2018: This Merlot wine hails from premium Grand Cru vineyards within the St. Emilion appellation. Ripe darkish crimson fruits layered over notes of darkish chocolate, a little bit of smoke and adopted by a recent, minerally end. Polished and silky on the palate, the tannins are elegant, including an ideal pitch of construction. Scrumptious now or maintain for a couple of a long time. $85
CHILE/Montes Alpha Merlot, DO Valle de Colchagua, 2020: Cherries and blackberries meet plums on this juicy, recent pleasing merlot. Proof that one needn’t lay our a fortune to benefit from the fruit-forward, smooth textured qualities of this varietal. $25
VIRGINIA/Early Mountain Eluvium, 2022: Virginia continues to provide some fantastic wines and this one isn’t any exception. Ripe plum, black cherry, cassis and violet notes dominate the palate. Silky texture and polished tannins spherical out the end—jogs my memory of a Bordeaux by way of restraint, energy and magnificence. $90
CALIFORNIA/Jackson Property Merlot Bennett Valley, Jackson Hills, 2021: Grown at 700 – 900 ft of elevation, The Jackson Hills Winery delivers difficult rising circumstances together with a pleasant dose of Pacific coast fog courtesy of the Petaluma Hole. Such an exceptionally cool website yields a wine of eleganace and focus with ripe notes of black cherry, spice field and plum. The wine’s polished tannins and construction make it a pleasant option to age or drink now.
Matanzas Creek Merlot, 2021: Cultivated within the northern reaches of Sonoma within the Alexander Valley, this wine is a mix of fruit from the valley and mountain vineyards. Intense notes of darkish cherry, spice and cassis are layered with complexity and richness—however not overly-ripe and dense, slightly elegant and refined. This bottle is a world-class expression that exhibits how nice this grape may be.
Ehlers Property Merlot, 2021: Plush, smooth and fairly, this Merlot brings ripe black cherry, a bit of untamed strawberry and a thread of heat spice to the palate. Full-bodied with tons to like, this can be a stunning wine and one the vineyard suggests ageing for a decade or extra.
Markham Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, 2021: Assume chocolate-covered cherries for this recent however ripe expression of Merlot. Blended with a little bit of cabernet sauvignon and malbec, the wine exhibits notes of untamed plum, darkish chocolate and black cherry. A lot of construction to maintain issues elegant, nice end. ($31)
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