Happy #MerlotThursday from the 40th Annual GrapeFest in historic Grapevine, Texas. I took an early train this morning with one mission in mind: Find a Merlot and taste it before the sun goes down.
I’m currently in the International Wine Experience garden, where wines from California and France are being poured in honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris.
I ask around, and it doesn’t take very long to locate a Merlot in this lineup. The friendly wine-serving volunteers point me in the right direction: A 2022 Napa Cellars Merlot.
It’s very nearly 100 degrees already, and I have to admit that a big, boozy red wine is not what I’m craving at this morning hour. But duty calls–and Napa Cellars delivers approachable Merlot character that’s not overbearing.
Red cherries, mulberries, and plums are complemented by brewed black coffee and spicy notes of cinnamon, cedar, and ginger root. It’s quite full (but not thick) in body, with persistent drying tannins. Concentrated cherries and tomatoes fill the palate, leading into a root-beer-like finish of stewed plums and sarsaparilla.
The 2022 was a hot vintage–and it shows in the wine, with elevated alcohol and some extra-ripe fruit flavors. But this is still a tasty Napa County Merlot for under $25, which would shine in the presence of a piece of salty cheese or grilled meat. The wine is aged in 100% French oak, 29% new.
Bottle: Napa Cellars Merlot (2022) – Napa County, California, United States
Variety: Merlot
ABV: 14.2%
Suggested retail: $22.99
My rating: 8.6 (out of 10)
Review disclosure: I was not compensated or provided any free products for this review. (I accepted a VIP ticket to the International Wine Experience from my employer.) Opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.
On Thursdays, we Merlot! You can view archived #MerlotThursday reviews here.
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