Well, it's been a long week, and I think I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel as we heard toward the weekend. And one bright spot is a virtual wine tasting tonight with Drew Bledsoe and Josh McDaniels of Doubleback Winery, so what better way to celebrate than opening a bottle of their first vintage of Merlot! The 2021 Doubleback Merlot is a blend of Merlot (94%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) from Shafer Vineyard which is on the north side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, adjacent to the Leonetti Upland Vineyard, which is known for quality Merlot. So, let's get a taste with the virtual tasting!
The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a high-quality Merlot. A gentle swirl releases aromas of vanilla bean, ripe red fruit and a hint of oak. The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit, plum, raspberry and currant that transitions to some dark chocolate and peppery spice midpalate. The tannins are soft, and well suited for the warm dry finish. During the tasting, Drew mentioned a story about a Merlot symposium they held at Doubleback before they even started making a Merlot, and the screenwriter from Sideways showed up. He mentioned how he noted that he had a lot of guts showing up to a Merlot symposium after he singlehandedly killed Merlot, but he responded that he didn't kill Merlot, he saved it. There were a lot of mass-produced, low-quality Merlots at the time, and the movie served as a catalyst to the good producers to elevate the quality of the varietal. I thought that was an interesting perspective!
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a pleasant drinking Merlot that really shows the earthy texture of the Walla Walla Valley. This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from barbecue to steak, spicy tacos to soft cheeses. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic comfort dish of stuffed cabbage! I made this batch a bit spicy, but this wine stands up well to it. Cheers!
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