2016 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I'll admit I spend most of the afternoon working and then mowing, so I'm definitely ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that I picked up at my local supermarket yesterday, the 2016 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot.  Given the unpopularity (is that a word?) of Merlot when compared to Cabernet, there are usually bargains to be found as in this case.  My market was apparently discontinuing this wine, and it was marked down to $19, so how could I resist?  I put four bottles in my cart and then the friendly cashier reminded me if I bought six I'd get an extra 10% off, for a net cost of around $17!  So, let's see if this bargain was worth the price!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a Napa Merlot.  A quick swirl reveals aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry and cassis, with undertones of dried herbs and baking spice.  Take a sip and your palate is enveloped by a velvety cascade of ripe black fruit interspersed with some earthy mineral notes and hints of anise and violet.  The tannins a lush, providing a nice backdrop for the long, voluptuous dry finish.

Overall, this wine was well worth the bargain price and I'd rate this one a solid 9, as it's a classic Napa Valley Merlot.  This wine would pair well with hearty pasta dishes, soft cheese, or a nice steak.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse topped with sautéed sweet and red onions, along with steamed broccoli and oven roasted purple potatoes.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot Cabernet Franc

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that I've been anticipating for a while, and since I just got my spring wine club shipment from L'Ecole I can try it!  The 2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Vallet Merlot Cabernet Franc, a blend of Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Franc (50%) from the Seven Hills and Ferguson Vineyards.  I've heard such good things about the right bank style blend, so let's give it a try!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from these two varietals.  The nose is a symphony of earthy mineral notes, dusty basalt, leather and graphite (hat tip to the Ferguson Vineyard) over subdued black fruit notes with a bit of black pepper spice at the end.  The taste is just divine, particularly if you're a Merlot fan like I am, a rush of black cherry and currant give way to some black pepper spice and course mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is young, but about as solid as you could expect, with lush tannins supporting the long, smooth and velvety dry finish that lingers on.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a fabulous expression of the varietals and the terroir of these two powerhouse vineyards.  This was highly anticipated, but it's still an incredible value for just $36 retail!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from roast beef to braised short ribs to wild salmon, but it practically begs to be paired with a steak.  So tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled filet mignon, baked potato with all the fixin's and some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2015 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Merlot

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around my house!  We had a bunch of snow today, so to avoid cutting down my Christmas trees in the snow, I went out yesterday afternoon to get them.  And in typical Clark W. Griswold fashion, I probably went a little overboard on the family room tree as it really fills the space!  In any case, you can get a sense of the holiday cheer in the photo below (and yes, that is an official Christmas Story leg lamp in the background!).  I also confess I'm apparently on a bit of a Merlot kick, but to be fair, wineries keep sending me Merlot in wine club shipments so I can't really help it!  In any case, tonight I've opened a bottle from the latest wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2015 Walla Walla Merlot, which is a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (7%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley. 

The wine is a deep inky color in the glass, just what you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  The aromas of leather, black cherry, and tea leaf abound on this wine from a very warm vintage (based on my discussions with a lot of Walla Walla folks, the 2015 vintage will likely be much more fruit concentrated and likely better for early drinking rather than cellaring).  The taste is a fantastic rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, plum and layers of fig that yield to notes of black pepper and fennel.  The tannins are lush, supporting the warm, dry and voluptuous finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely Merlot that's versatile and food friendly.  This is a wine that just speaks to the upcoming holidays, and I could easily see this wine pairing with anything from fire glazed ham to turkey with cranberries, to dark chocolate and peppermint bark.  Tonight I am relaxing after decorating (more to finish tomorrow!) and enjoying this wine with a dinner of pan seared sea scallops on a bed of baby arugula with pesto penne.  Cheers!