Points: 90 Price: $15-$20

 

Arboleda 90% Merlot 10% Carmenere...

Winemaker Notes...I'm starting with these notes because this guy ( Francisco Baettig ) ..has a very impressive background. Notes: With a nice ruby red colour, this wine immediately shows good intensity and displays aromas that complement both ripe fruit and spices. Notes of red and black fruits like strawberries and dried plum appear, complemented with black pepper, which adds complexity to the background. This Merlot is medium bodied on the mouth and tannins predominate on the palate, offering a firm and robust structure which is still sweet in the finish. Balsamic flavors appear and intermingle again with the fruit and flavours from barrel aging, adding chocolate and caramel notes, which create a very pleasant wine with a long and smooth finish.

 

My notes: great color in the glass ( great first impression folks ) with colors of Deep Red Roses and Violets. On the nose it shows a bit of anise and that caramel, chocolate thing going on.

On the palate it shows that silk texture for sure and I feel that 10% Carmenere adds a nice component of bell pepper but it is very slight. Now remember merlot should always show a chocolate component to it in some way and this merlot does (slight) all the way around, nose and mouth and that is a good thing.

So I love the overall balance and structure here. And that texture of silk I love in merlot. Very solid and it reminds me of something from Bordeaux...and that is really, really good. =) It has character !!! And lay it down for 5 years I say because it will only get better and more complex.

Now a great food pairing in my mind is (90% lean beef)...Traditional Meat Loaf...Recipe from Whole Foods, Enjoy!!!

Learn more online at www.ArboledaWines.com... You will love this merlot!!