Category Archives: Merlot

RECOMMENDED: Wente Vineyards Estate Grown, 2009 “Sandstone” Merlot, Livermore Valley/San Francisco Bay. 13.5% ABV. $12.99.

Posted on February 6, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

APPEARANCE: Almost purple, translucent, clear edges. NOSE: Dust on nose at first. Blackberry and spice. TASTE/MOUTHFEEL: Round, balanced, mouth-filling, expanding. Smooth. Fruity. A hint of licorice. Pipe tobacco, toasty oak. FINISH: Lingering and lovely. LABEL NOTES: Wente Vineyards, established in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Merlot | 2 Comments

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: elements by Artesa, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, AND elements 2006 Red Wine.

Posted on February 3, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: elements by Artesa, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petite Verdot and 1% Malbec), 62% Napa County, 38% Sonoma County. 14.4% ABV. Around $17 but available for as little as $12.99. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Graciano, Grenache/Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Tempranillo | 1 Comment

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Leese-Fitch 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, California. 13.5% ABV. $9.99.

Posted on January 12, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Three of us tasted this beauty, and all of us were stunned that a Cab this young (and inexpensive!) could possibly be this complex and delicious. Turns out there’s a reason: while it is indeed mostly Cab, it is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Carignan, Merlot, Petite Sirah | 8 Comments

RECOMMENDED: Leese-Fitch 2009 Merlot (87% Merlot, 13% Syrah), California. 13.5% ABV. Generally $8.99-10, available for as little as $7.75 (http://vinobazaar.com/red-wine/merlot/leese-fitch-merlot-2009/).

Posted on January 12, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

APPEARANCE: Dark ruby red with clarity, cool pink/lavender edges. NOSE: A light layer of red fruits: strawberry, raspberry. Opened to aromas of soft flowers, a kiss of oak, and molasses. TASTE: Chewy, round, mouth-filling, balanced, smooth, and mellow. I couldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz | Leave a comment

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Château La Bonnelle, 2008 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. Around $22 but you can find it on sale for $18-19. 13.5%.

Posted on December 24, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

This beautiful red Bordeaux is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sounds simple enough, but somehow the vintner managed to turn it into an unusual, very interesting, highly aromatic wine with the heady bouquet and taste of flowers including violets … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Food, France, Merlot | Leave a comment

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Sterling Vintner’s Collection 2009 Meritage. Central Coast, CA. 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot. $12.99. 13.5% ABV.

Posted on December 9, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Delicious! Oak, vanilla, and cinnamon. A first impression of brown sugar and jam gave way to a dry, beautiful wine. This is a wonderful, versatile everyday (i.e. inexpensive) blend that’s good enough for a dinner party. Delicious and classy, made … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Blend | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: 2009 William Knuttel Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County. 13.9% ABV. $19.99.

Posted on December 9, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Delicious, smooth, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. It was blended with Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, which explains why it is more of a Bordeaux-style red than a fruit bomb. It’s big but not in-your-face, and beautifully aromatic. It hasn’t been super-easy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot | 2 Comments

WINE TASTING. Two strong recommendations, lots of education.

Posted on December 6, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

On November 19, we attended a wine tasting hosted by Cuvée, Ocala’s wine bar and bistro (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). The wines were presented by Tom Tiley, wine consultant with Coastal Wine & Spirits. Tom’s background includes 15 years as a Level … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, France, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Restaurants, Sauvignon Blanc, Tastings, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: Project Paso 2010 Red Blend, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Paso Robles. 22% Grenache, 17% Petite Sirah, 16% Syrah, 15% Merlot, 9% Zinfandel, 8% Tempranillo, 7% Malbec, 4% Barbera, 2% Touriga Nacional. 13.8% ABV. $14, available for less than $10.

Posted on November 30, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Y’know how red blends with Cabernet Sauvignon are dominated by the Cab most of the time? That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just the way it is. I mean, if Robin Williams comes to your party, guess who’s going … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, California, Grenache/Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Syrah/Shiraz, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Chalone Vineyard, 2007 Merlot, Monterey County. 13.5% ABV. Around $12, available for as little as $7.34.

Posted on November 13, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

When we dined out recently (Mesa de Notte, Ocala, FL, mesadenotte.com), we were pleasantly surprised by the wine list. In fact, TWO Chalones (Merlot and Chardonnay) were on the wine list, along with a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, California, Merlot | Leave a comment