I found this wine at our local wine shop while my wife and I were out grabbing lunch one afternoon. Seeing that it was mid-afternoon, we didn’t want to go with our typical “big” Cabernet; we also wanted to find something at a more reasonable price.
A Bold Merlot
The Napa Cellars Merlot is a blend of 93% Merlot, 5% Syrah, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass, the wine has a nice dark ruby color to it with just a hint of transparency to it. On the nose are nice aromas of plum, cherries and spice. The palate has dark fruits, chocolate and the spice is still present. This merlot has nice even tannins and a medium finish.
I usually am not a merlot fan as I have found that most merlots are too “soft” for my liking. This merlot, however, is different. I really enjoyed that hint of spice which was present on the nose and palate. The other thing that I liked about this wine was that even though it comes in at 14.7 % ABV, you really don’t notice the higher alcohol content. It has a bigger mouth feel, which I would attribute to the addition of the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Would I buy/drink this wine again?
So far, I have enjoyed the other wines that I have had from Napa Cellars and think at $16, this would also be a nice addition to your cellar.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 corks.