Winemaker Notes
Pair with Seared Pork Chops with Mustard Green Chimichurri, Beef Braciole and Winter Squash Mac and Cheese.
Blend: 88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Staying just where this grape variety should be, the 2013 Rombauer Vineyards Merlot is spot-on in its performance. This wine shows red fruit and pencil lead nuances, with a hint of dustiness. Its firm- yet smooth finish pairs it well with pan-seared, roasted chicken thighs. (Tasted: July 12, 2017, St. Helena, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Plump and supple, with red currant and rose petal aromas and elegantly complex flavors of black cherry, mocha and spice. Drink now through 2026.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.