Flora Springs Merlot 1997
Merlot
from Napa Valley, California
winemaker's notes:
We use about 85% French oak with about 15% American oak to give just a touch of that sweet oak impression. This wine was bottled without minimal fining or filtration to retain all its deep fruity characteristics. Blending enhanced the character while preserving the drinkability of this wine. We want our Merlot to show the intense fruity characteristics of the grape; this wine is rich and plump with lush fruitiness and smooth lingering flavors. It showcases plums and black cherries with earthy cedar aromas.
user reviews:
The top 3 most liked reviews for this wine.
A Customer - Falls Church, VA
This wine is a pleasure to drink. It is amazingly complex, and very drinkable right now. I've had some good wine in the past few months, including 82 and 83 Dunn Cab, 85 BV Reserve, 90 Stag's Leap Cask 34, 77 Warres port, just to name a few. But this one is no doubt the most enjoyable bottle I've had in the last few months (I am not saying this wine is better than those others at all. I knew what to expect of the other wines. This one was just a very surprisingly hedonistic wine) The most memorable characteristics of this wine is the herb: thyme, sage, all spice, dried orange peel. Plus, truffle and a little cigar. These are in the nose and in the mouth as well. I couldn't stop drinking it. Give it 3 to 5 more years, and it will be a dandy. (The winemaker says "if you can wait that long". I can't.) I only put away 2 bottles. At $18 a bottle, I really should get more for the cellar.
