Today’s #MerlotThursday pick is a by-the-glass pour at The Wine Authority: The 2021 Ferrari-Carano Sonoma County Merlot. Welcome, wine friends–let’s bring Merlot back! 🍇🍷
Ferrari-Carano makes moderately-priced, food-friendly wines from their Sonoma County vineyards. I generally find them to be a good value and I reviewed their exuberant Dry Sangiovese Rosé earlier this year.
In the glass, it’s dark ruby with inky purple depths. Aromas of black plum, blackberry, light vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and cola. Plum and cherry compote dominate the palate, with toasty and chocolaty undertones. I find this wine to be medium-plus in body–rich, but not cloying–and medium in acidity. Robust alcohol at 14.8% is providing some backbone to the ripe, Port-like fruit flavors.
The dark, almost pruny sugarplums have their moment, then bow out to reveal fresher tart black cherry and red raspberry on the midpalate. The finish is almost completely dry, with firm, lasting tannins–a welcome surprise given the pastry-shop aromas and the overall smoothness of the fruit.
The Syrah in this blend is 13%, and it feels like it’s dragging Merlot onto the dance floor and choosing the song. Fortunately, it’s a harmonious number–the Syrah (and Petit Sirah) contributing tannic structure and distinctive black fruit, anise spice, and cola aromas.
Overall, this is a satisfying and balanced wine. As the label humbly suggests, it’s ideal for enjoying with pasta and grilled meats. Aged 17 months in French oak, 25% new.
Bottle: Ferrari-Carano Sonoma County Merlot (2021)
Variety: 75% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% mixed reds
ABV: 14.8%
Suggested retail: $22.99
My rating: 8.3 (out of 10)
Review disclosure: I was not compensated or provided any free products for this review. Opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.
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