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Merlot is an amazingly difficult grape to find in the very good (& above) range for a decent dollar amount from California. Land prices and winery sales are sly rocketing there.
On the other hand Washington produces more in that range but most places don't stock enough for consumers like to get to them in a timely fashion (unless you plan to sit on the merlot page everytime you go on-line).
I'm beginning to New York might be a place to look.
And yet France has very economical merlot wines
Yes they do Kathleen - makes you wonder.
I will let my fingers do the walking in our wine cellar tomorrow as I look for the most appropriate bottle of Merlot.
@PBwine , your comment on Merlot availability (quality product) is a very good one; although Merlot is a wonderful grape, it has unjustly lost its sheen due to changing tastes and, as you reference, to Hollywood (the movie "Sideways" - where PN is king and queen). Actually, Merlot as a pure varietal produces silky, plummy and even chocolate-like nectar in California, but the demand is not really there, so Sauvignon rules - or, more recently, Syrah. It has become a backbencher in the blending department in the New World at least. Too bad, as you say, because it is a noble, worthy grape. Economics and fad one suspects.
We have our fist bottle which is a St Francis 2014. Kathleen will join us as will Susan & Harry so we will have 3 bottles to sample!
OK, it looks like I am about 30 minutes early, but that is due to some extenuating circumstances that would likely bore you. Here is my review:
The 2009 Painted Rock Merlot (Okanagan Valley, BC Canada) is showing only limited bricking at the glass rim, being yet of a dark, black cherry colour. A most unusual find (current release: 2016), but seems intact: nose is of a gentle, slightly canned plum with riper plum on entry, and vanilla notes from gentle, integrated French Oak tannin. Smooth and silky attack and a warm, but not alcoholic finish. Mature, with signs of port-like notes and chocolate. A very fine wine. May last 2-3 more years in the cellar, but at its peak, most likely. 4 glasses. Anyone who does not like this wine does not like wine.
Here's mine -it's their entry level - but it's good. Decanting for a little longer.
That should be good, Paul. Love your decanter.
What vintage year is that, Paul? I was getting Mondavi Merlots from Costco, a while back, and really enjoyed them.
Here is mine
and, for Al, the back label
Nice, informative pics, @EMark. Delicious, I bet - the wine bottle contents, I mean.
Initial impression is that it's OK, but not great.
I get all kinds of red fruit--cherry, strawberry--that reminds me of the "bad old days" of Merlot, before "Sideways." Very moderate body. I do get a suggestion of that cocoa that they mention, but it is, definitely, a stretch. Very moderate tannin--the PN I had the other day was more tannic--and, very moderate acid.
Kathleen brought a St Francis but the 2016 Vintage. It will be fun comparing the 2 different vintages!
Agree, and it's also a single-vineyard wine.
The last thing I ate before trying the wine was a little package of oreo cookies and it still tasted fruity to me.
I've been noshing on olives and cheese for the last 20 minutes trying to fool my taste buds.
Love the hyacinth.
My favor flower. It has a fantastic bouquet!
Hope so and thanks.
It's the 2015 and I do remember you posting about them.
1st pour - Decanted for 30 mins, maybe more (got busy). Dark red in the glass with a descent alc ring on the edges. No legs to speak of.Plum, dark cherry and blackberry dominate the nose with chocolate, damp earth and a twinge of herbals showing.
The fruit is well integrated with tannins and they both go down easily with a slight flushing of the cheek and throat. Well balanced acidity drives a solid medium length aftertaste, though the tannic rush is slightly dark cherry sweet it plays well the palate presentation.
Good wine.
Yes, unfortunately, they drive Mrs. EMark into sneezing fits.
I am here. Better late than never! I just arrived and opened this lovely 2015 Chateau Haut-Cadet, which is now in the decanter. I tasted it though and it is good. 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Look at this gorgeous cat. He is called Titan.
Well, my opinion of this wine is not changing. It is all about limp fruit--no structure or complexity, at all.
But that's why we open them up and taste them, isn't it?
If we let James Laube, or Antonio Galloni, or Brian Tuite do all our tasting for us, we would be a bunch of wine slaves, wouldn't we?
I do see why Merlot is described as "soft."
Susan & Harry brought Duckhorn 2014. All 3 good wines tonight! The St Francis 2014 is more fruity, lots of cherry, and very smooth compared to the 2016. That's very good too!
It sounds like you guys are having a great evening SallieBob.
I agree with that Mark - they do sound the evening will be enjoyable.
Sorry I voted for it.
Well, I'm sorry, folks, but I'm going to head downstairs and help with dinner.
So far, from Steve's report, it sounds like he is happiest with his wine. I'll get caught up tomorrow and check out everybody else's reports.
In a couple years, we have to do the "Merlot Night" again so that Paul can open up his Keenan and I can open up my Barnett.
Wow, some nice wines being sampled tonight, and great participation too. Sandra just put my dinner in front of me - pasta dish with baked chicken. It's a new recipe we are trying out before we host a wine dinner in 1.5 weeks with our neighbors Debbie & Rick. The food is fantastic too. I love this recipe. Oh, yeah, this is about wine. I do like the bottle we opened; it's opening up now. Sandra tastes fruit and sour plum. I get a tinge of sourness but not in a bad way.
One more rescue cat from earlier today - my Cat Tuesday.
Just went and checked the Alc for my Mondavi = 14.5%. That explains the flushing, but it is well melded to the fruit and drinks amazingly well.