Napa Valley Merlot

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Soft and elegant. Smooth and fruit forward.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with medium acidity.

Showing black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 2014 vintage is drinking wonderfully now, and this wine is a good example of it. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too.

I had this vintage 6 years ago, but it was not ready at all. Was unbalanced and a little austere. Right now, it is a wonderful wine that's at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Easy drinking, spicy and entertaining.

Robert Parker 92 points. Wine Enthusiasts 93 points.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

A blend of 78% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Malbec. Aged for 20 months in mostly new French oak barrels.

15.3% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$60.

Rich and concentrated. Well integrated oak. Coffee, mocha, dark chocolate, red cherry and plum. Intensive mouthfeel. Chewy tannins

Classic cherry & cocoa!

This will shine years from now...don't make the mistake and open it like we did. Way too young right now.

More savory than I remember this wine. Super wide bandwidth of flavor. Only 78% Merlot with a balance of Malbec and Cabernet

Deep purple in color with a ruby rim.

Strong and fruity on the nose with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, raspberries, leather, earth, spices, peppercorn, smoke, chocolates, mocha and black tea.

Full bodied and harsh, with high acidity and long legs.

Fruity and dry on the palate, and sour on the mid palate, with plums, raspberries, strawberries, red currants, oak, smoke, vanilla, licorice, earth, mint, peppercorn, spices and dark chocolates.

Long tangy finish with green tannins and sour raspberries.

This Napa Merlot is way too young. Needs 3 to 5 years in the bottle to mature. Bold and extracted, but still unbalanced.

Shows nice complexity, but
too tart right now, even after 90 minutes of airtime. Still austere, but time will make it all better. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it anyway.

I paired it with a cheese plate and dry fruits.

15.3% alcohol by volume .

Started rough. Burnt bandaid and diaper. Decanting helped a lot. Day 2 it’s settled into dark fruit, chocolate, red licorice and manure.

Made red wine reduction out of it lol

Excellent. Great flavors. Opened nicely. Was a little effervescent on opening and a bit tanic. Could have aged more. Would definitely get again

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 21 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Three days to go so just had Mrs Claus do my sack, back & crack - gotta be beech ready for some regions I deliver 😉”

📝 I say My favourite 🇺🇸 Merlot that’s not a Merlot 🤣 not as pungent & in your face as the 2012/13 and a bit easier going 👍 You can’t go wrong with this wine 😍 especially with 🥩 I’d give this 3-5 years but good now to 😀

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Bruno Paillard Premier Cuvee NV

📍 Shafer Merlot 2014

🏵 92-93 points

🍇 78% Merlot, 14% Malbec & 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷 Opaque black ruby

👃 Dark damson plum, black cherry & blackcurrant w/ raspberry, cloves, cocoa, spice, liquorice, mint & gravel w/ a touch of smokey oak lingering

👄 Med+ super smooth silky spiced blackcurrant, dark plum, dark cherry, blueberry & cocoa cream w/ a sweet raspberry undertone w/ a touch of green stalk & coffee kick

🎯 Long ripe black fruit finish covered with dark chocolate, raspberry & blueberry sprinkles