Happy Sunday! I spent the afternoon catching up on a few projects, then I went for another bike ride since it was once again sunny and in the 60s. So, now it's time for Sunday dinner, and a nice bottle of wine. Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Raymond Reserve Selection Napa Valley Merlot. I've been on a Raymond kick for a while, but this wine I just happened to find at my local wine store, which seemed like it might have been there collecting dust for a while. At any rate, let's see what this wine has to offer.
The wine is a wonderfully deep ruby color in the glass, a bit lighter in composure than you might expect for a Napa Merlot. A quick swirl and a whiff reveals some rather old world style aromas of candied plum, vanilla bean and cassis, with undertones of green grass. A sip provides a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that linger for a bit before transitioning to notes of tobacco and black pepper spice midpalate. The tannins are a bit sharp for their age, but wonderfully integrated for a long, very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasant drinking Merlot, that at $32 was not unreasonably priced. This wine would pair well with a variety of meats, from steaks to lamb chops to veal, but would also be at home with barbecue or pasta. Tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus porterhouse over some grilled leeks, with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and some mashed potatoes and gravy. Cheers!
