Tasting Room
MerlotWINE OF THE WEEK
Clos Pegase Winery
2002 Mitsuko's Vineyard, Carneros - Merlot ($25)
Big, rich and toasty. Complex and full-bodied. A merlot with good balance and structure. Aromas and flavors of black fruit, dry cherry and camphor.
2003 Napa Valley - Merlot ($22)
A tasty merlot. Earthy, with aromas and flavors of plum and dried berry, leather, tobacco, cola and chocolate.
1999 Adele's Vineyard, Sonoma County - Merlot ($100)
A merlot with limited appeal. Lean, with a thin texture. Light and delicate. Easy to drink, but uncomplicated.
2002 Estate,Oakville, Napa Valley - Merlot ($90)
Flavors of berry, leather and orange peel. Medium complexity. Medium-bodied. Medium oak. Big tannins.
2004 Napa Valley - Merlot ($50)
Lovely. Bakery aromas. Great concentration of rich fruit flavors. Notes of blueberry, cola, toast and oak.
2004 Cole Ranch, Mendocino - Merlot ($20)
Showy. Ripe, jammy, blackberry fruit. Soft texture. Clean flavors. Decent finish. Medium complexity.
2002 Napa Valley - Merlot ($38)
A showy merlot, with a soft texture. Flavors of berry, black plum, toffee and herb. Light tannins. Medium oak.
2002 Carneros - Merlot ($26)
A merlot with a decent core of fruit. Soft texture. Note of leather, oak and green bean. Medium complexity.
2002 Carneros - Merlot ($26)
A merlot with a decent core of fruit. Soft texture. Note of leather, oak and green bean. Medium complexity.
2003 Bennett Valley - Merlot ($29)
Good acidity and balance, but it simply lacks sufficient flavor, fruit and character. Aromas of citrus and mineral.
2003 Reserve, Napa Valley - Merlot ($35)
A merlot with a soft, round texture. Aromas and flavors of plum, berry and herbs. Note of tart quince.
2001 Napa Valley - Merlot ($24)
Great core of fruit. Aromas and flavors of cherry and blackberry. Spicy and herbal. Medium-bodied. Mildly tannic.
TASTING PANEL: Ben Pearson, wine buyer, Bottle Barn; Stefen Soltysiak, director of education, Rodney Strong Vineyards; Larry Van Aalst, Equus; Damy Tamburrino, Simi; and Press Democrat wine columnist Peg Melnik.
CRITERIA: The panel samples eight to 12 wines a week in a blind tasting. Wine of the Week is based on quality, value and availability and is not necessarily the top wine of the tasting. Price is suggested retail; actual price is often lower.You can reach Staff Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or e-mail pmelnik@pressdemocrat.com