The Wine Fairy

Merlot Thursday: Matanzas Creek Alexander Valley Merlot (2021)

Happy, happy #MerlotThursday! Today we’re tasting the 2021 Matanzas Creek Winery Merlot from California’s Alexander Valley.

At The Wine Authority again for my weekly Merlot pour! Today it’s Matanzas Creek Winery Alexander Valley Merlot (2021).

Sonoma County winemakers since 1977, Matanzas Creek emphasizes cooler-climate sites and has built a reputation on their Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. A little Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Bordeaux-style red is also grown. Recently, the winery has branched out to sparkling wines and Chenin Blanc bottled under the statewide California appellation.

Besides wine, Matanzas’s Santa Rosa estate is noted for its splendid lavender gardens. Three acres of lavender fields greet visitors to the tasting room and supply its gift shop with soaps and seasonings.

Love that farm-fresh lavender, but we’re here for the grapes. Today’s bottle understood the #MerlotThursday assignment and is 97% Merlot, mostly from high-altitude Alexander Mountain vineyards. The remainder of the blend is made up of tiny fractions of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Deep purple in color with an inviting juicy nose of wild red and black berries. Violets, vanilla, and aromatic baking spices (nutmeg and clove) are followed by warm toasty notes of cocoa and grilled poblano pepper.

On the palate it’s even more directly fruit-focused, with raspberry, bramble, beetroot, and red-fleshed plum. Overall, it’s medium in style–bright and perfume-y, yet structured. Medium-plus acidity and medium, mostly-smooth tannins that retain a little bit of grip. I find an appealing tension between ripeness and tartness of the berry fruit. There’s little noticeable heat, despite its 14.4% alcohol.

The 2021 vintage was aged 16 months in French oak, 32% new. (The 2022 came out just a couple of months ago.) It’s not overwhelming in its complexity right now, but to sure to develop nicely over the next few years.

I drank it solo. However, now that I know about Matanzas’s famous lavender gardens, I’m itching to pair it with Herbes de Provence roasted lamb or potatoes.

Bottle: Matanzas Creek Merlot (2021) – Alexander Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California

Variety: Merlot (97%), Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon (3%)

ABV: 14.4%

Suggested retail: $45

My rating: 8.9 (out of 10)

Pour yourself a Merlot and join in! Or, see past #MerlotThursday reviews here.

Ahhh…it’s Merlot time.

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.