Opera Prima Merlot, 2008
Oct. 2nd, 2010 10:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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our_daily_vinoMy friends Kyle and Man bought me this bottle as a gift 2 years ago. I decided to let it age a little, and since I was in the mood for a Merlot recently, I uncorked it.
It's a Spanish Merlot from the La Mancha DO.
Color: This wine is dark like a Zin. Deep purple red. Any darker and I'd think there was some Petite Sirah in there.
Sniff Test: Earthy and "bricky" with a razzleberry undernote. This is a substantial Merlot. (The nose reminded me of South Coast Winery's 2003 Wild Horse Peak Merlot.)
First Impression: This is not a fruit forward wine, but neither is it closed and "subtle" to the point of blandness. Up front it's blackberries and raspberries, but eaten on a day where there's a eucalyptus tree burning somewhere in the neighborhood and it's set a rosemary bush on fire, too. The middle's a little blank, but the tannins start to come in, the mouth feel is lush and velvety, and the finish is tart without being sour.
Breathing Room: The front is still the softly smoky dark berries, the middle has that green note, but not bright, muted and soft, and the tannins are even softer and more velvety. Dark chocolate notes come in towards the end. The finish is long and cherry vanilla, and some dried rose petal aromas sneak into your nose from the back. A veil of spicy herbal smoke overlays it all. There is quite a bit going on in this wine.
This wine reminded me a lot of the 2003 Wild Horse Peak Merlot mentioned above. That was a very intense, very lush, powerful and nuanced wine, wonderful in every way. This wine isn't quite that calibre, but a lot of the same taste and "design" elements are there. It's "Wild Pony Hill", if you will. ;)
Verdict: Drink it while unwinding with a good book, pair it with roast chicken or red meat, or let the bottle sit for a few more years, because I think it's got potential for at least 5-7 years in the bottle.
It's a Spanish Merlot from the La Mancha DO.
Color: This wine is dark like a Zin. Deep purple red. Any darker and I'd think there was some Petite Sirah in there.
Sniff Test: Earthy and "bricky" with a razzleberry undernote. This is a substantial Merlot. (The nose reminded me of South Coast Winery's 2003 Wild Horse Peak Merlot.)
First Impression: This is not a fruit forward wine, but neither is it closed and "subtle" to the point of blandness. Up front it's blackberries and raspberries, but eaten on a day where there's a eucalyptus tree burning somewhere in the neighborhood and it's set a rosemary bush on fire, too. The middle's a little blank, but the tannins start to come in, the mouth feel is lush and velvety, and the finish is tart without being sour.
Breathing Room: The front is still the softly smoky dark berries, the middle has that green note, but not bright, muted and soft, and the tannins are even softer and more velvety. Dark chocolate notes come in towards the end. The finish is long and cherry vanilla, and some dried rose petal aromas sneak into your nose from the back. A veil of spicy herbal smoke overlays it all. There is quite a bit going on in this wine.
This wine reminded me a lot of the 2003 Wild Horse Peak Merlot mentioned above. That was a very intense, very lush, powerful and nuanced wine, wonderful in every way. This wine isn't quite that calibre, but a lot of the same taste and "design" elements are there. It's "Wild Pony Hill", if you will. ;)
Verdict: Drink it while unwinding with a good book, pair it with roast chicken or red meat, or let the bottle sit for a few more years, because I think it's got potential for at least 5-7 years in the bottle.
