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Muirwood Merlot
750ml
$15.99
+CRV
Mix 6 for $14.39 each
*Price, vintage and availability may vary by store.
*Price, vintage and availability may vary by store.
Product Highlights
Monterey, Central Coast, CA- This well-balanced and fruit filled Merlot offers bright red fruit flavors of plums and cherries with subtle nuances of cedar on the velvety smooth finish. This easy drinking bottle is lovely on its own or try it with lamb or duck.
PlumCherryCedar
Product Details
OVERVIEW
Geography
The Monterey region is a long valley that stretches 90 miles along Highway 101, from the city of Salinas south to San Luis Obispo County. Cool winds rush down the valley from Monterey Bay, creating chilly conditions at the northern end – ideal for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Gewurztraminer – and warmer sites farther south where Cabernet and Syrah thrive.
Much of the valley floor is home to large-scale winemaking, with some individual vineyards covering thousands of acres. Look for more distinctive selections from the eight smaller AVAs within Monterey County: Arroyo Seco, Carmel Valley, Chalone, Hames Valley, San Antonio Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas and Santa Lucia Highlands.
Varietal / Type
Winemakers love Merlot grapes because they are easy to grow and quick to ripen. Casual wine drinkers appreciate that Merlot wines can be soft and approachable, with delicious dark fruit flavors. In Merlot blends, the grapes add a moderating influence, providing measured tannins, soft texture, medium acidity and medium alcohol. Accordingly, Merlot balances the more rustic and herbaceous qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon, a frequent blending partner.
Merlot can also make complex, full-bodied and concentrated wines with grippy tannins and aging potential. Many connoisseurs consider the best Merlot wine to come from Bordeaux’s Right Bank, where the varietal predominates in wines from St.-Émilion, Pomerol and other renowned appellations. Merlot is also blended to excellent effect with the other red Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.