Tasting Notes For Friday, 2/23/12

NCWC MERLOT TASTING 3/23/12

        STARMONT CHARDONNAY 2009

                We begin tonight’s adventure with a delicious Chardonnay from Napa Valley.  In the words of Wine Spectator, this is “clean, pure and spicy, with a beam of ripe pear, melon, nutmeg and cedar flavors. Full-bodied and gaining on the finish.”  A nicely balanced Chard, for sure.  88 points Spectator $12.97.

 RANCHO SISQUOC MERLOT 2008

                Now we start our exploration of Merlot.  Rancho Sisquoc is located on the Foxen Canyon wine trail in Santa Barbara County.  As for the wine, we hope you like cherries!  On the nose, the midpalate, and the finish, you’ll find cherry pie, cherry vanilla, and cherry liqueur, all framed by toasty oak.  Juicy and luscious and very, very quaffable.  88 points Jim Tobin.  $12.97.

 ORFILA AMBASSADOR’S RESERVE MERLOT 2008

                For this one, of course, we visit our own backyard.  This is entirely estate grown Merlot, meaning all from Orfila’s San Pascual hillside vineyards.  It’s full-bodied, displaying a richness of cherries, violets, and raspberries balanced by gentle oak.  Yummy stuff!  88 points Tobin Bros.  $19.97.

 MATANZAS CREEK MERLOT 2006

                Let’s keep moving around, shall we?  From Sonoma County, this one is “ripe and voluptuous, with very rich, long-lasting berry, cherry, mocha and spice flavors, liberally oaked and wrapped into fine, sturdy tannins. This is a beautiful Merlot that trades on the variety’s opulently fleshy sensuality.”  We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.  90 points Wine Enthusiast.  $21.97.

 SIKA MERLOT 2009

                As the Wine Exchange says, “this is one of those ‘high-powered-wineries-selling-juice-out-the-back-door scenarios, and as is the way with such things, we can’t name names as far as the source of the fruit” goes.  Taste it, though, and the wine will speak for itself.  Black cherry, currant, blackberry, spice, vanilla and oak come together with such gorgeous balance and pure deliciousness you’ll wonder what the hell Miles was talking about in that scene from “Sideways.”  90 points Tobin Bros.  $19.97.

 STERLING 3 PALMS MERLOT 2005

                Also from Napa Valley, this is a big, structured, Cab Lover’s Merlot.  It boasts “heady aromas of new leather, Hershey’s dark chocolate syrup, black cherry and peppermint. Lovely plum and cherry-chocolate flavors impart a defined mintiness. Lasting fruit impressions accented by a lingering menthol nuance.”  A wine that will reward decanting, and that can be cellared for up to ten years, at least.  95 points Wine News.  $29.97.

 PARADIGM MERLOT 2007

                Heidi Barrett has had a glorious winemaking career, including making the $800/bottle cult wine Screaming Eagle.  Paradigm is a personal project of hers that makes incredible wines available at a much friendlier price.  Her Merlot is “well-structured and focused, with ripe plum, spice and cedar aromas and black cherry and mocha coffee flavors that take on richness and tannins on the finish.”  Another beautiful Merlot that shows what the grape can do in the right hands!  91 points Bill Tobin.  $39.97.