2011 Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot

To celebrate me finishing shoveling the driveway and to settle in for an evening in front of the fire to shield me from the sub-zero outside temperatures, I've decided to open a classic bottle of Merlot, the 2011 Northstar Winery Columbia Valley Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Petit Verdot (2%), which should add to the wine's complexity.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a center that borders on indigo.  The nose is an interesting combination of mocha, dark chocolate and raspberry over a subtle base of earthy minerality.  The taste is very nice, a blast of fruit up front, tart cherry, raspberry that transition seamlessly into some vanilla bean and toasted oak midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with a hint of basalt among the fine tannins that support the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's still a bit young but is drinking quite nicely right now.  It was also a great value as I bought this one for $24,50 in an offer from Vivino (if you don't have it already, it's a super app for drinking wine on the go!).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Merlot dinner of seared ribeye, baked potato and steamed asparagus. Cheers!