Rombauer Merlot 2017
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James
Suckling
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Aromas of fresh, ripe blueberries, ripe plum and black currant intertwine with notes of cedar, vanilla and pie crust. This medium bodied wine is plush with flavors of plums, blueberries and figs upfront, leading to juicy red fruit on the mid palate. Delicious now, its depth and structure provide long cellaring potential. FOOD PAIRINGS Our favorite Joy of Cooking pairings for this wine include Seared Pork Chops with Mustard Green Chimichurri, Beef Braciole or Pate de Campagne.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a very attractive merlot with black fruit, walnuts, black olives and hints of chocolate. It’s full-bodied, creamy textured and deliciously flavorful at the finish. Drink now or hold.
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As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.