Another #MerlotThursday is upon us…and dang it if I’m not behind on my Merlot tasting. The Wine Fairy is headed to a Hungarian wine class later this afternoon, where there will almost certainly not be any Merlot to write about.
The hours are ticking down, and it seems the only option is to run out to the Carrabba’s Italian Grill across the street from the office. They have two Merlots by the glass: Your Bogle or your Duckhorn. I ask the server for her recommendation. Bogle it is.
This is a Merlot in the medium-bodied, cherry-cola genre. That sounds like faint praise, but it’s more than tolerable, especially at the time-machine price of $8.79 a glass. (Mediocre wine pours are routinely priced at $15-$18 in Dallas restaurants now. And when you do decide to order just a glass, half the time it’s oxidized because they have too many open bottles behind the bar…I seriously hate it.)
Black cherry, chocolate-cherry cordial, and vanilla lead a nose that is defined by soft fruit and volatile high alcohol. The oak character is more resinous than spicy. Light herbs (herb candy and juniper), too.
There’s a touch of sugar–but overall it smells sweeter than it tastes. Flavors of blackberry jelly-donut filling and black plums are tempered by medium-plus acidity and medium chalky tannins. A brief but agreeable carob-mocha finish keeps you coming back for another sip.
In short, a fine lunch pick! It was a tasty treat with Carrabba’s herb-grilled shrimp Caesar and focaccia. Aged 12 months in French oak.
Bottle: Bogle Family Merlot (2022) – California
Variety: Merlot (winemaker’s blend)
ABV: 14.5%
Suggested retail: $11
My rating: 8.0 (out of 10)
Pour yourself a Merlot and join in! Or, see past #MerlotThursday reviews here.
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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