Global Merlot Tasting
@ Bin 604 Wine Sellers,

1. Cousino-Macul Estate Merlot 2002, Maipo, Chile ($9.99)
Delicious everyday Merlot from the kingdom of bargains, Chile.

2. Cartlidge & Browne Merlot 2001, California ($10.99)
Enjoyable, fruit-forward wine from our favorite Californian bargain producer.

3. Trentadue Merlot 2001, Alexander Valley ($16.99)
One of the best values in CA Merlot with rich, chocolatey plums and a smooth finish.

4. Falesco Merlot Umbria 2002 ($17.99)
Falesco is owned and operated by renowned oenologist Ricardo Cottarella.

5. Chateau Canon-La-Gaffelière 1997 ($69.99)
Harsh selection and small yields allowed proprietor Stephan van Neipperg to create one of the stars of the 1997 vintage. A superbly concentrated opulent wine of great stature.

6. Reignac 2001 Bordeaux Superieur ($29.99)
From the finest producer among the generic Bordeaux properties comes this Merlot-based wine which is ready to drink now or can be tucked away for a few years

7. Chateau Fonplegade St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2000 ($47.99)
“...structured, deep, concentrated wine with high levels of tannin, but equally impressive levels of extract and richness. Medium to full-bodied, with plum, black currant, and cherry fruit intermixed with mineral and earth, this pure, rich St. Emilion is an admirable achievement.” -Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate #146

8. Nelms Road Merlot 2002, Columbia Valley ($24.99)
This is the second label of the outstanding Washington State winery, Woodward Canyon. This charming Merlot has the stuffing to improve in the bottle and will make a great match with lamb and beef.

9. Dalton Reserve Merlot 2000, Galilee, Israel ($38.99)
A superb offering from one of Israel’s top producers, displaying a distinct terroir in this tasting.

10. Neyers Merlot 2001, Napa Valley ($38.99)
Characteristic of the great 2001 vintage, the Neyers Merlot is packed and stacked with dense plummy fruit and the structure to age another ten years.

11. Shafer Merlot 2001, Napa Valley ($41.99)
Shafer’s Merlots typically include around 10% of Cabernet and Cab Franc in the final wine blend, which adds to the wine’s aromatic complexity. This full and well-structured 2001 will be even better with some cellaring.

12. Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 2001, Napa/Sonoma ($50.99)
Luscious 2001 Merlot (the finest vintage since 1994) from one of Napa Valley’s brightest stars. This wine is fantastic! Robert Parker gave this wine 92 points in the last Californian issue of The Wine Advocate.