2006 Raymond Merlo Estate Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it's the first Saturday of November, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  That magical time when I dig into the cellar for a wine that's been waiting to be tasted for a decade or more.  Tonight, after spending nearly seven hours working in the yard blowing and raking leaves, I could use a nice dinner and glass of wine to relax, maybe I'll even have a fire tonight!  Tonight's Cellar Saturday wine is the 2006 Raymond Merlo Estate Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley.  So let's see what we've been waiting for!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is an interesting combination of smoke, candied plum and a hint of lavender over the top.  The taste is quite interesting, with a rush of blueberry and currant, that transitions nicely to some notes of vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing for a soft, voluptuous and very dry finish.  With the sweet fruit notes and vanilla, this wine is just perfect for fall, ass at least it will help balance out all the pumpkin spice!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully structured wine that's so very different from the typical, big and bold Cabernets from Napa Valley.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from mushroom risotto to chili and stew.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip with some Bearnaise sauce, grilled leeks, steamed Brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  Cheers!