| Merlot Tasting Report |
Tasting Report
For our Merlot wine tasting report, we tried two examples
from California, Franciscan and Cypress, two examples
from the Chilean giant, Casa Lapostolle, their regular
Merlot and their Alexandre Cuvee, and one Australian
renegade from Yalumba. The tasting panel fancied the
Franciscan the most and indeed it was quite delicious,
however, the Alexandre Cuvee from Casa Lapostolle was a
memorable experience in a bottle in it’s own right. All in
all, I think we liked all of our wines this month. There was
no hint of “Cat’s Pee” in any of these wines.
One interesting item to note about the wines we tasted, the
region that they came from played an important part in the
style they were made. For example, the California wines
were similar in style with a fruitier taste, and the two
Chilean wines had hints of bell pepper and mint in them.
The Australian wine had a much thinner body to it than did
our other Merlots and had quite a different nose altogether
from the rest. Tasting the same varietal wines from all
different places is quite fun and educational. You really
can start to pick out the subtle differences from one
country to the next.
I want to make an important point about the two Chilean
wines from Casa Lapostolle. Although the tasting panel
gave them both a B+ and there is about a $10.00 difference
between the two wines, don’t assume the cheaper one is
the better deal. I am here to tell you, the Cuvee Alexandre
to me, was well worth the extra $10.00 and truly a
marvelous wine as was the Franciscan from California. I
have yet to have a wine from Franciscan that wasn’t
stunning.
With that being said, lets bring on the wines!
For our Merlot wine tasting report, we tried two examples
from California, Franciscan and Cypress, two examples
from the Chilean giant, Casa Lapostolle, their regular
Merlot and their Alexandre Cuvee, and one Australian
renegade from Yalumba. The tasting panel fancied the
Franciscan the most and indeed it was quite delicious,
however, the Alexandre Cuvee from Casa Lapostolle was a
memorable experience in a bottle in it’s own right. All in
all, I think we liked all of our wines this month. There was
no hint of “Cat’s Pee” in any of these wines.
One interesting item to note about the wines we tasted, the
region that they came from played an important part in the
style they were made. For example, the California wines
were similar in style with a fruitier taste, and the two
Chilean wines had hints of bell pepper and mint in them.
The Australian wine had a much thinner body to it than did
our other Merlots and had quite a different nose altogether
from the rest. Tasting the same varietal wines from all
different places is quite fun and educational. You really
can start to pick out the subtle differences from one
country to the next.
I want to make an important point about the two Chilean
wines from Casa Lapostolle. Although the tasting panel
gave them both a B+ and there is about a $10.00 difference
between the two wines, don’t assume the cheaper one is
the better deal. I am here to tell you, the Cuvee Alexandre
to me, was well worth the extra $10.00 and truly a
marvelous wine as was the Franciscan from California. I
have yet to have a wine from Franciscan that wasn’t
stunning.
With that being said, lets bring on the wines!
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| Franciscan Oakville Estate Merlot 2000 – Napa Valley, California |
Nose – Rich cedar wood and cocoa aromas followed up with plump red
berries.
Taste – This Merlot is perfectly balanced and elegant with loads of rich
red fruits that fade away into perfection with a smooth and mellow
finish that will leave you wanting more. What can I say, I have been
impressed with all of Franciscan’s wines so far!
Well, the wine purist in me would recommend just drinking this by itself
since it’s such a thing of beauty. However, that being said, it really is
quite food friendly. You could serve it with pretty much anything on our
Merlot Menu and you would not be disappointed. Enjoy!
berries.
Taste – This Merlot is perfectly balanced and elegant with loads of rich
red fruits that fade away into perfection with a smooth and mellow
finish that will leave you wanting more. What can I say, I have been
impressed with all of Franciscan’s wines so far!
Well, the wine purist in me would recommend just drinking this by itself
since it’s such a thing of beauty. However, that being said, it really is
quite food friendly. You could serve it with pretty much anything on our
Merlot Menu and you would not be disappointed. Enjoy!
| Score A- |
| Around $18.00 to $20.00 |
| Casa Lapostolle Cuvee’ Alexandre Merlot 2000 – Colchagua Valley, Chile |
| Score B+ |
Nose – Racy spices like cloves, pepper and mint followed up with rich
plums.
Taste – This is a real powerhouse of a wine! Bold plums and huge
tannins knock you over. There is a touch of dark chocolate on the
finish. Fantastic! You should be able to hold onto this wine for a while.
Due to the high level of tannins, I would steer clear of the lighter foods
on the Merlot menu. Try this with red meats or poultry, lamb & veal in
rich hearty sauces.
plums.
Taste – This is a real powerhouse of a wine! Bold plums and huge
tannins knock you over. There is a touch of dark chocolate on the
finish. Fantastic! You should be able to hold onto this wine for a while.
Due to the high level of tannins, I would steer clear of the lighter foods
on the Merlot menu. Try this with red meats or poultry, lamb & veal in
rich hearty sauces.
| From $18.00 to $20.00 |
| Casa Lapostolle Merlot 2000 Rapel Valley, Chile |
| Score B+ |
Nose - Roasted bell peppers, juicy plums and a hint of mint.
Taste – An elegant mixture of plum fruit and earthy bell pepper notes
followed up with a long finish and plenty of tannins to help it last. True
to form for a Chilean wine.
I would recommend this wine with a roast, brisket, or beef in a
mushroom sauce. Also, if you have a recipe that calls for bell peppers,
this wine could really accentuate them!
Taste – An elegant mixture of plum fruit and earthy bell pepper notes
followed up with a long finish and plenty of tannins to help it last. True
to form for a Chilean wine.
I would recommend this wine with a roast, brisket, or beef in a
mushroom sauce. Also, if you have a recipe that calls for bell peppers,
this wine could really accentuate them!
| Around $10.00 |
| Yalumba Merlot 1998 – Barossa Valley, Australia |
| Score B |
Nose – Hints of toffee or caramel, red berries and light wood flavors.
Taste – This thin-bodied Merlot is ready to drink now. It shows lots of
tart cherry flavors, a touch of plum and finishes off with some peppery
accents.
Try this Merlot out with your lighter chicken and pork dishes.
Taste – This thin-bodied Merlot is ready to drink now. It shows lots of
tart cherry flavors, a touch of plum and finishes off with some peppery
accents.
Try this Merlot out with your lighter chicken and pork dishes.
| Around $15.00 |
| Cypress Merlot 2000 - San Jose, California |
| Score B |
Nose – Dark chocolate, cedary oak and blackberries.
Taste – This Merlot is spicy and peppery with dark fruits like black
cherry and blackberry jam. It finishes off round, soft and smooth with
a touch of chocolate.
This wine would be a great way to start off a romantic evening or if
you wanted to try it with food, how about something fancy like a roast
or Cornish hen. Maybe even a backyard barbeque or hamburger.
Taste – This Merlot is spicy and peppery with dark fruits like black
cherry and blackberry jam. It finishes off round, soft and smooth with
a touch of chocolate.
This wine would be a great way to start off a romantic evening or if
you wanted to try it with food, how about something fancy like a roast
or Cornish hen. Maybe even a backyard barbeque or hamburger.
| Around $10.00 |
