Varietal - Merlot
January 12, 2012
Spicy and woody to begin with, but time unveils strawberry jam aromas. There’s not a ton of definition to the palate, but it’s reasonably fruity and smooth, with ample vanilla flavors to the creamy finish. If you prefer a broad, softer Merlot with some buttery oak, this is for you.
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Odfjell Merlot - 2005
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January 12, 2012
This is a transition wine for Canoe Ridge, whose talented winemaker, John Abbott, did the crush but left before finishing it. It’s a good effort, but not as lush as previous vintages. The fruit is pretty and the wine balanced, with nice flavors of plum and dried cherries, and intriguing hints of tobacco leaf in the finish.
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January 12, 2012
Slightly dusty on the nose, with some floral notes alongside plum fruit. Shows decent richness on the palate, ending on a note of tangy fruit backed by chocolate and coffee.
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January 12, 2012
Starts off super-oaky, unleashing the telltale scent of rich, charred wood, and its vanilla and spicy notes. Only in the mouth does the fruit generously reveal itself, in fat cascades of blackberries, mocha and sweet herbs. It’s very complex, but also very hard now. Drink 2006+.
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January 12, 2012
Here’s a good, veryday Merlot, with some complexity. It’s dry and balanced, with a good array of black cherry, blackberry and toasty oak flavors. Has the flash of a very fine wine, without quite the depth, but the price is fair.
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January 12, 2012
Early aromas are like a pile of pencil shavings, and later some herbal fruit enters the frame. Raspberry and bramble are the lead flavors, while the mouthfeel and balance are solid and push the wine to a reasonable finish. Not a head-turner but it gets the job done.
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January 12, 2012
Somewhat herbal, with hints of blackberry, cherry and spice. The tannins are moderate, as is the finish, with a dash of pepper at the end.
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Markham Merlot - 1998
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January 12, 2012
This kosher offering is light and leafy, with strong notes of vegetables and tomatoes. The raspberry and cherry flavors are thin.
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Alfasi Merlot - 2001
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January 12, 2012
What a nice wine. It’s a real pleasure to sip this dry, fruity wine, whose flavors are evenly balanced between blackberries and herbs. The weight in the mouth is perfect, full-bodied and yet easy. A nice bite of acidity undercuts the flavors.
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Kenwood Merlot - 2000
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January 12, 2012
Though perhaps just a notch below the 2002 version, this remains the Merlot to beat in the budget bottle sweepstakes. Bright berry fruit is married to smooth chocolate, without appearing over-manipulated or laced with fake vanilla. Creamy and consistent, it’s widely available at a great price. Over 172,000 cases were produced.
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