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Merlot

Merlot Reserve Wine Details
Price: $92.00 per bottle

Description: Like black cherries wrapped in Belgian dark chocolate, this Merlot is all about lush elegance. We blended this wine from our 40 best barrels to create a true Reserve Merlot. 2001 was a great vintage in Napa Valley and allowed the fruit to ripen fully and evenly, providing abundant structure and balance, with a rich, dark, jammy fruit intensity. Inky red hues, aromas of black currants, spicy smoke, espresso and cinnamon sticks introduce flavors of ripe juicy blackberries, cherries, clove, nutmeg, and chocolate. Balance and harmony are key to the dance of lively fruit and substantial yet rounded tannins which ensure that this wine will age gracefully in bottle and delightfully unfold in the glass for many satisfying years.

Varietal Definition
Merlot:
Merlot is known as a Noble Bordeaux varietal. Although it came to France in the first century, it was not named until the 1880s. Merlot was originally used only for blending, as it is soft and compliant, very useful in softening other Bordeaux wines like Cabernets. Recently in California and Chile it became popular as a 100% varietal wine. Merlot tends to be easier to grow in a variety of soil conditions and is harvested earlier in the year than Cabernet. Although most Merlots are made to be drunk earlier, there are many with complexities of a Cabernet. Flavors of plum, black cherry, violet, chocolate and orange pair well with rich, red pasta dishes, hearty chicken dishes, and any beef combination that you fancy. The perfect match of course is chocolate. Not only does the chocolate compliment the wine and vice-versa, but the essence of both flavors linger eternally.


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