Taste: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Price: $8-$10
I would definitely buy this Woodbridge, CA Merlot again. I found the nose to be dark berry fruit (black cherry and plum) and light oak, with smooth drinkability and flavor that mimicked the berry fruitiness. The oak and tannins were present in the finish in a nice, but not overwhelming balance. I could easily have looked down my nose at the whimsical label, but I would have missed out. I would enjoy taking this to a "blind" (no pun intended) tasting to get other people's opinions.
Notes from the winemaker: The grapes came primarily from vineyards in the Central Coast and Lodi regions, both excellent sources for high-quality Merlot. Mild summer weather and a relatively light crop in these areas contributed to an impressive concentration of color, aroma and flavor in the fruit, which was harvested in fine condition before the sun vamoosed and Jack Frost – or Jack Nicholson – came nipping at our heels. We night-harvested the fruit, crushed it into stainless steel fermenters, then inoculated the juice with a cultured yeast. (Yes, yeast are highly cultured.) The juice fermented for a week at 70-800 F. and was pumped over the grape skins several times daily to maximize extraction of color, flavor and tannin. A judicious dollop of French and American oak enhanced the wine’s texture and complexity, as did blending in small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel.
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