Merlot is to the American
wine consumer in the 2000's as "burgundy" was in the 70s:
the new generic red. A "boom" in wine consumption, combined
with the consumer trend to move away from generic wine blends and into
varietals, stimulated plantings of "new," as well as "proven" wine
grapes in the Pacific NW throughout the late 90's and continues today.
Perhaps
Washington’s most famous wine
is Merlot, a re
read more
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Sineann Merlot Champoux Vineyard 08 - Dark, rich (to the point of voluptuous), powerful. This is what Merlot can be. Huge black cherry nose with graham, toast, and a hint of smoke. Sweet black cherry/plum flavors, accented by touches of plum lique...read more
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Red Diamond Merlot is a great value from a new winery, part of the Ste Michelle group. Elsewhere on the web, it's $14 a bottle - this is the exact same wine, we don't know why the huge price elsewhere online.
From the winery: "The line in t...read more
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Pedestal Merlot 06 - Wine Spec 93 pts Michel Rolland is the world's most prominent winemaker, traveling among the world's top wineries to consult on the makeup of their finest wines. In Washington State, he makes one wine - Pe...read more
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Sineann's style is dark, aromatic with chocolate overtones and complex, silky tannins. A big, plush juicy wine.
"Dark and concentrated. Crop sizes are kept small, 2.1 tons per acre, and it pays. These wines are dark, aromatic with chocolate o...read more
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Corvidae Wine Company's "Rook" blended red wine is a crowd-pleaser. A little more than half of the fruit for this wine comes from the organically
farmed Ironbird Vineyard in the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon.
Here the fruit hangs well in...read more
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Fielding Hills Merlot 07 - the 2007 vintage of the Fielding Hills Merlot starts with scents of plum, blackberry, and baking spice. Add black cherry, violet perfume, and cassis to the flavors of this succulent wine. The finish is full of rich fruit...read more
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90 Wine Enthusiast The 15.5% alcohol does not get in the way of subtlety here. This typically stylish, 100% Merlot is smooth and supple, and it retains the fresh herbal highlights that are usually obliterated by high octane wines. This is a substanti...read more
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Owen Roe Abbot's Table 2008 - Abbot's Table 2008 is the perfect example of a "smooth" wine. Velvety, lush, round flavors glide over your taste buds. The Zinfandel and Sangiovese provide the backbone and show in the lingering finish of sweets plu...read more
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Natalie's Estate Merlot Rock Horse Ranch 06
Price: $27.95
$25.16 - Any 12 or more bottles
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Natalie's Estate Merlot Rock Horse Ranch 06 - A whole lot of Merlot: Rich, sweet cherry and plum flavors with elements of meatiness, mint, and black pepper on the finish. Nicely strucured for drinking over the next few years. Sourced from the ...read more
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Natalies Estate Merlot, Pines Vineyard 07 releases 2-09...read more
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From the winery: "big and lush, rich in jammy fruit, with subtle floral and herbal notes."...read more
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Nelms Road Merlot is a second label for Woodward Canyon wWinery. Flavors of ripe cherries and other red fruits marry nicely with spice and vanilla from French and American barrels. Great value.jy
Price reduction from $22....read more
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Kiona Cabernet Merlot 06 - Wine Press Northwest says: EXCELLENT - "...hit the nail on the head with nice cherry and berry components. The merlot comes through, offering smooth, balanced flavors, with the oak giving off touches of vanilla." read more
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Northstar Merlot Walla Walla 03
Price: $50.95
$45.86 - Any 12 or more bottles
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92 points Wine Advocate. Dusty malt, dried herbs and bright cherry flavors are balanced well into this smoothly-structured wine that concludes with a supple, lingering finish.
Wine Advocate says: "Chocolate, blackberries, and cassis can...read more
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Charles Smith Velvet Devil Merlot 07 - Charles Smith's great value Washington State Merlot....read more
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Fielding Hills Merlot 06 received 93 points from Wine Spectator (11/12/08) : "Ripe, round and generous, this sumptuous wine offers layers of gorgeous blackberry and black cherry flavors, hinting at toast and spice on the creamy-te...read more
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McCormick Family Vineyards Memaloose Corps Red 06 - a blend of cabernet franc, sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.
...read more
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McCormick Family Vineyards Memaloose Mistral Red Wine - a small family-owned vineyard and winery business. Most of the grapes are grown in their organic vineyards, with some coming from other local vineyards....read more
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Deep flavors of black cherry and blackberry blend with concentrated flavors of mocha and anise. Aged for 20 months in French and American oak barrles, this Merlot has a long supple finish.
...read more
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Characteristic cedary, silky black cherry fruit, with cool mint and baking spice aromas and a gripping, yet elegant mix of blueberry, blackberry and cocoa on a long lingering finish....read more
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Barnard Griffin Cabernet/Merlot Blend has raspberry fruit, herbal complexity and toasted French and American oak aromas. Flavors are dominated by direct fruit, medium acidity and a moderate tannic finish round out the wine. Delicious soft, approachab...read more
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Complex black cherry, currant, leather and balanced oak aromas. This wine has rich black cherry, plum and currant flavors with hints of chocolate on the finish. Smooth mouthfeel, balanced acidity and focused flavors.
...read more
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Concentrated mocha, vanilla and blueberry aromas along with a very deep purple hue, a hint of oak and a lingering finish. Rich, sumptuous bright cherry and blueberry aromas and flavors, enhanced with nuances of mocha and vanillin oak, a lush, full pa...read more
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Aromas of dark chocolate, plum and herb are accompanied by smooth, rich flavors and firm structure....read more
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Pedestal Merlot 06 - Wine Spec 93 pts Michel Rolland is the world's most prominent winemaker, traveling among the world's top wineries to consult on the makeup of their finest wines. In Washington State, he makes one wine - Pe...read more
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Sineann Merlot Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard 07 is one of Peter Rosback's red wines made from a California vineyard's fruit.
Peter describes his philosophy of Merlot: "Dark and concentrated. Crop sizes are kept small, 2.1 tons per acre, and it...read more
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Dusted Valley Vintners Boomtown Merlot 07 - Dusted Valley's Boomtown Merlot and Syrah are the winery's best value offerings. ...read more
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Vin Du Lac Barrel Select Merlot - A huge Merlot with 6% Malbec and Cabernet Franc to add layers to the deep fruit flavors of this powerful wine. - the winery...read more
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Hogue Merlot Reserve 05 - earth, spice, leather and black olive aromas complemented by soft oak and ripe berry. Flavors are of dark chocolate and cream, intense raspberry fruit and herbal mint spice. It has great structure and mature tannins, with...read more
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From the winery:
Layers of lush, black cherry, sweet plum, blackberries, wood spice, vanilla, and a touch of cocoa. The flavors are consistent with the aromas, having sweet cherry, Marionberry, and mocha balancing a nice spicy oak component. Round ba...read more
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The aromas of ripe plum, black currant, and rich spices are balanced with touch of sweet oak and vanilla. Flavors of blackberry, currant, and black cherry dominate the surprisingly full mouth feel, with sweet vanilla as a compliment. The long, firm, ...read more
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Badger Mountain Merlot has no sulfites added. Great complex aromas with dark fruits like black cherry, raspberry, and blackberry dominating the subtle spicy undertones. Flavor complexity is enhanced with a background of toasty oak to compliment the ...read more
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Barnard Griffin Merlot has aromas of black cherry and black current are balanced with oak, spice, nutmeg, and vanilla. Bright fruit flavors dominate in the mouth with a lively acidity and moderate but smooth tannins....read more
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Barnard Griffin's Reserve Merlot 05 received 92 points from Wine Spectator: "Ripe and juicy, with a mouthful of cherry and currant fruit at the core, hinting at carpaccio and red beet notes as the flavors roll on and on. Wafts of...read more
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Bergevin Lane Merlot 05 - Smooth and supple, this is an elegant, medium- bodied Merlot that shows bright cherry and plum flavors. Notes of chocolate and silky tannins round out the nice long finish....read more
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Five Star Cellars Merlot 06 - The heady aromatics demand your attention. Scents of blackberry and vanilla come through clearly on the nose. Rich and Deep. Black current and spicy clove overtones combine in the glycerin like mid palate. Well integr...read more
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From the winery: "This is a blend made from some of the very best vineyards in Washington State including Seven Hills Vineyard, Conner Lee Vineyard, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, and Klipsun Vineyard. The blend, which also includes 4% Cabernet Sauvigno...read more
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The bright garnet color of this wine lends instant appeal. A rich, toasty oak, combined with lush, concentrated dark cherry and berry aromas greet the nose. Flavors of chocolate, spice and plum linger on the palate. This bold Merlot has a rich, well-...read more
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Rich and spicy, with aromatic aromas of nutmeg, clove and cinnamon, this Merlot shows ripe black plum, blackberry and dark flavors encased in a peppery, chocolate, black cherry finish.
80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2%...read more
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Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley 05 - An elegant wine that opens with bold aromas of raspberry, mint, maple, chocolate, clove, coconut and licorice, it's medium-bodied, dense and muscular with a bold, rich, smoky coffee-mocha finish.
...read more
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Arbor Crest Merlot 06 - Dark and juicy, a lively mouthful of blackberry, cassis and hints of smoke as the finish persists impressively. Attractive now, but should develop more depth as it settles in. Best from 2009 through 2014.
A great Mer...read more
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Reininger Merlot Walla Walla 05 - Cab? Syrah? NO. Try Merlot - offering up a nose of cherry-tobacco and cardamom scented chocolate, evolving into intense black cherries with pillow-soft tannins before pushing out a touch of plum and a small, unli...read more
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The Griffin Creek 2002 Merlot is made from grapes grown in Southern Oregon. Soft black cherry and plum flavors mix with mocha and smoke. ready to drink and easy to like....read more
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Walla Walla Vintners Washington State Cuvee 07 - This lush blend of Walla Walla Valley terroirs contains 35% Cabernet Sauvignon from Seven Hills and Windrow Vineyards, 35% Merlot from Seven Hills, Dwelley Jones and Spring Valley Vineyards, and 30%...read more
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Cadence Klipsun Vineyard Red Mountain 05 - 82% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Precise aromas of anise, plums, and chocolate lead into an unusually silky, suave palate. There is the ample power Klipsun carries in spades, but the extra dimension ...read more
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Cadence Coda Red Wine 07 - 57% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 12 % Petit Verdot
The wine is a deep purple red. The aromas are of plummy deep fruit and subtle oak spice. The palate is broad and plush, ripe and round.There ar...read more
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Ash Hollow Merlot 06 - Layers of beautiful bright cherry notes are folded nicely with a velvety hint of black currant; big and luscious with a luxurious long finish ...read more
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Isenhower Cellars Merlot - a richly aromatic and brilliant wine with soft tannins. Black plums, cherries, currants, intriguing spices, tarragon, and
mocha aromas overlay a balance of red/black fruit, acidity, and fine-grain tannins. - the winery...read more
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Reininger Helix Merlot 06 - Lush and luscious, Merlot fans are going to love this wine. The swanky aromas of oak spice, smoke and currants blend gracefully with fresh cigar tobacco and carmel apple. Well structured with firm tannins, the taste of ...read more
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MORE INFORMATION
Merlot is to the American
wine consumer in the 2000's as "burgundy" was in the 70s:
the new generic red. A "boom" in wine consumption, combined
with the consumer trend to move away from generic wine blends and into
varietals, stimulated plantings of "new," as well as "proven" wine
grapes in the Pacific NW throughout the late 90's and continues today.
Perhaps
Washington’s most famous wine
is Merlot, a red wine that can be smooth and fruity or bold and rich
with complex flavors.
In the '90s, Washington emerged as one of
the great places in the world to grow and craft Merlot. The poor soils,
long days and
cool nights are just about perfect for this round, supple red wine.
British Columbia's South Okanagan Valley, Southern Oregon's Rogue and
Umpqua Valleys and Idaho's Snake River Valley also have strong potential
for the grape.
“Top to bottom, the quality of Washington
Merlot has improved for everybody,” said Charlie Hoppes, a Washington
winemaker since 1988, referring to a tasting of Washington Merlots in
2002.
“In
this judging, the ripe flavors and black fruit really stood out. And
there was good integration of oak. We didn’t taste too many Merlots
where the oak was overly aggressive.”
Rather than bright flavors often associated with the grape, Hoppes sees
a lot more dark tones in Washington Merlot.
“That’s the way I’ve seen Merlot go since ’93
or ’94. People are letting the grapes hang longer,” he said,
adding, “People in other parts of the country get confused because
they expect it to be softer than Cab. That’s what really distinguishes
Washington Merlot.”
Hoppes spent several years as Chateau
Ste. Michelle’s red winemaker
before putting Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla on the map in 1999.
He recently left Three Rivers to launch his own brand, Fidelitas, and
he also makes wine for three Columbia Valley boutique wineries: Cañon
de Sol, Goose Ridge and Ryan Patrick.
History of the Grape
Merlot is by far
the most widely planted grape of the entire Bordeaux region and third,
behind carignan and grenache
as the most planted black variety in France. However, it has a starring
role in only one region, historically, north of Bordeaux's Gironde River,
where it is the basis of the wines of St. Emilion and Pomerol. Château
Petrus, which has risen in consumer stature in the past three decades,
is over 90% Merlot. South of the Gironde, however, merlot usually plays
a supporting role in typical Medoc blends with cabernet sauvignon and
cabernet franc. Château Palmer in the medoc is about 60% Merlot.
Because merlot
ripens at least a week earlier than either cabernet variety, it is "vineyard insurance" where
rains are a factor at harvest. It also has slightly higher yields and
grows
better than the cabernets in damp, cool soils. The disadvantages for
growers are more susceptibility to frost in the Spring, because merlot
both buds and flowers early, and failure to mature fruit if the climate
is dry and the vineyard well-drained. The berry of merlot is relatively
thin-skinned and prone to rot.
Merlot is moderately vigorous in vine growth, but
must sometimes be reined in from setting too large of a crop by judicious
pruning, often followed weeks later by cluster thinning. Merlot on fertile
soil may produce eight tons per acre, but best fruit quality is gained
if the crop is kept at six tons per acre or less. Paradoxically, merlot
is one of the varieties most prone to coulure, a condition that causes
the immature berries to fall off soon after flowering. Careful selection
of both clone and site can avoid this problem, as coulure is more serious
in colder climates.
While its flavor profile is similar to Cabernet
Sauvignon1, Merlot tends to be slightly more herbaceous overall in both
aroma and taste. Ripeness seems critical; both under ripe and overripe
grapes lean away from fruit and towards herbaceousness. Merlot has slightly
lower natural acidity than Cabernet and generally less astringency, therefore
usually a more lush mouth-feel.
The most frequent, but not exclusive, aromas and
flavors typically found in Merlot include:
|
Typical Merlot Smell
and/or Flavor Descriptors
|
Varietal Aromas/Flavors: |
Processing Bouquets/Flavors: |
Fruit: currant, black cherry,
plum |
Oak (light): vanilla, coconut,
sweet wood |
Floral: violet, rose |
Oak (heavy): oak, smoke, toast,
tar |
Spice: caramel, clove, bay leaf,
green peppercorn |
Bottle Age: truffle, mushroom,
earth, coffee,leather, cedar, cigar box |
Herbal: bell pepper, green olive |
. |
Earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon to mature in bottle,
Merlot is held in higher esteem by wine drinkers than by wine collectors.
Syrah is richer and darker, Pinot Noir lighter
and more velvety, but Merlot has become the darling red wine. Is it because
the consumer finds Merlot easy-to-drink or is it perhaps, because Merlot
is easy-to-say? I'll have a glass of Merlot, please, while I think about
it.
Jim LaMar is editor
of Professional Friends of Wine, instructs Introductory Sensory Evaluation
of Wine at California State University, Fresno, and has been drinking,
thinking, teaching and writing about wine for 30 years. He is a member
of Professional Friends of Wine.
---------------------------
NOTES
1. A recent study by an analytical chemist at the University of Bordeaux determined
that the flavor distinction between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot was possibly
due to the grapes containing different amounts of one chemical: 4-hyroxy-2,5-
dimethylfuran-3(2H)-1, or HDMF. Four times the level of HDMF in Merlot accounted
for a more pronounced "caramel" flavor, according to the panel of
expert taster subjects, who graded nine samples on the relative strength of
12 aroma categories.
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