Wine Reviews & Recommendations

Pinot Noirs & Merlots
(Yes, Merlot) to Drink Now

Back to drinkable red wines this month, and specifically a range of splendid Pinot Noirs from California and Oregon, and several top value California Merlots.

Did I say the “M” word? Yes, Merlot is, after all, one of the world’s noblest red wine varieties, and does produce many wonderful versions in California, including those noted below.

As usual, I have listed the wines within each group in approximate order of their weight and flavor intensity, proceeding from lighter to fuller.

Merlot Wine Recommendations

Wente Vineyards
2004 MERLOT
ARROYO SECO
$12-$14

Supple and ripely flavored, with moderate richness, light oakiness, and a medium long finish, tasting of plum, spicy oak, blueberry, herbs, and tobacco. Top value. 15,000 cases. Drink through 2008.

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Ravenswood
2004 MERLOT
SONOMA COUNTY
$19-$21

Full bodied and quite rich in style, this is a supple Merlot, with black olive, black currant, toast, pepper, and blueberry aromas/flavors. Great value. Drink through 2009.

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J. Lohr
2004 MERLOT
LOS OSOS, PASO ROBLES
$16-$18

A fleshy, moderately rich Merlot, that is supple, full bodied, and long on the palate, with light oakiness on the finish. Excellent value. 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec. Drink through 2009.

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Miner
2004 MERLOT
STAGECOACH VINEYARD, NAPA VALLEY
$35-$38

Excellent Merlot: full bodied, firmly structured, lightly oaky, and long on the palate--a wine with complex character (toast, plum, blueberry, spicy oak), light tannin, and a long aftertaste. 14% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. 1,401 cases. Drink through 2010.

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Nickel & Nickel
2004 MERLOT
SUSCOL RANCH, NAPA VALLEY
$55-$58

A fleshy, rich Merlot, that is full bodied and somewhat powerful on the palate, with a long, lightly tannic finish. It is complex in character, and tastes of aniseed, toasted oak, plum, and soy. 821 cases. Drink through 2010.

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Pinot Noir Wine Recommendations

Morgan
2005 PINOT NOIR, TWELVE CLONES
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
$28-$30

Fine quality: fragrant and very distinct, this is an excellent wine. Full bodied, medium rich, long and persistent on the finish, with complex aromas/flavors (blueberry, plum, toast, raspberry, red currant, spicy oak). 70% from Double L Vineyard. 12,000 cases. Drink through 2009.

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Wild Horse
2005 PINOT NOIR
CENTRAL COAST
$23-$25

A supple, well balanced wine, that is full bodied, smoothly textured, and long on the finish, tasting of cherry, toast, spicy oak, clove, and plum. 55,618 cases. Drink through 2008.

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Alma Rosa
2005 PINOT NOIR
SANTA RITA HILLS
$33-$35

Screw cap. Excellent Pinot Noir: fragrant and complex in character (raspberry, plum, toast, clove, tobacco), full bodied, well balanced, and long on the finish. Somewhat delicate in style, with fine flavor. Drink through 2008.

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Paraiso
2005 PINOT NOIR
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
$22-$24

A rich, full flavored Pinot Noir, that is ripe and lightly oaky in style, with intense blueberry, plum, spicy oak, and toast aromas/flavors. Long finish. 5,200 cases. Drink through 2009.

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MacMurray Ranch
2004 PINOT NOIR
SANTA RITA HILLS
$28-$30

Full bodied, crisp, and medium rich; an intensely flavored Pinot Noir, with evident oakiness, and a very long, persistent finish, tasting of plum, kola nut, tobacco, toast, and spicy oak. 400 cases. Drink through 2009.

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Domaine Serene
2004 PINOT NOIR, EVENSTAD RESERVE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OR
$47-$50

A full bodied, moderately rich Pinot Noir, with evident new oak character (tobacco, cedar, vanilla), rich fruitiness (plum, cherry), and a long, firm finish. Excellent. Drink through 2009.

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MacRostie
2004 PINOT NOIR
WILDCAT MOUNTAIN VINEYARD
SONOMA COAST
$45-$48

Exceptional: fleshy and ripely flavored, full bodied, well balanced, and very long on the finish, tasting of plum, toast, cedar, vanilla, and cherry. Best ever Pinot from MacRostie. 595 cases. Drink through 2009.

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ZD Wines
2005 PINOT NOIR, RESERVE
CARNEROS
$60-$65

Excellent: fleshy, full bodied, rich, and lightly oaky; a wine with good depth and character, and a long finish, tasting of plum, baked cherry, nutmeg, toast, and spicy oak. Certified organic. 950 cases. Drink through 2009.

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Sactuary
2005 PINOT NOIR, BIEN NACIDO VINEYARDS
SANTA MARIA VALLEY
$28-$30

A rich, supple Pinot Noir, with ripe fruit and new oak aromas/flavors, with very good balance and length, tasting of plum, blueberry, toast, spicy oak, and nutmeg. Drink through 2008.

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Merry Edwards
2004 PINOT NOIR, KLOPP RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$50-$55

Wonderful Pinot Noir: fleshy and full bodied, a wine with intense, complex character, excellent balance, and a very long finish, tasting of toasted oak, clove, rose petal, baked cherry, red currant, and spicy oak. Drink through 2010.

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-- RW

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