ON THE NOSE:
Deep rich fruit aromas of dark cherry and very ripe plums, dark chocolate and sweet cream. A very pleasant nose though not very complex beyond the fruit. Rich and plump, however, like one of those oversized deep leather chairs that relaxes every part of your body making you first want to read, then fall asleep.
ON THE PALATE:
Unfortunately this wine made us want to sleep. This is a very strange wine to us, and it is proving difficult to write this review. This wine does not taste cheap – and indeed it was not – yet it also doesn’t have enough complexity to warrant its high price (though that high dollar amount is partly due to local prices, which we find are higher than prices we find online). Still, a wine should be reviewed and judged on its own merits without regard to price or pedigree.
Yes, this Merlot does have a nice deep, plush fruit-forward flavor profile going for it, but honestly there is not much else here. As Darcey and I sat drinking this wine Darcey said something I found interesting: “This wine is actually hard to drink!” Although perhaps a little difficult to explain that statement succinctly to the reader, I knew instantly what she meant. Yes, it IS smooth, but then it is also harsh, mostly due to a bit too much acidity with virtually no tannic backbone. The mouthfeel is indeed silky, but the acidity ruins it all. It being late August and the tomatoes starting to pile up on the counter I at one point sliced a tomato to simply eat and enjoy, and THEN the wine was better, as if perhaps the acidity of the tomato balanced this wine out more. One shouldn't have to eat a tomato, of course, in order to enjoy a $70 Merlot!!!
We must also point out that the heat remains evident on this wine even four hours after decanting, I mean this is an aspect we felt would mellow with oxidation, but it has yet to calm down. This wine is a major pass, and a confusing offering whose makers should really learn a lesson and try to do it right with their next effort. I've read favorable reviews online but I have no idea what they are thinking, drinking, or smoking! It could be, I admit, that we had a bottle that was bad in some way, but it was not corked nor oxidized. The cork looked good and I don't believe it was spoiled by heat. This wine is simply not happening! Perhaps it is too young? The winery does say, however, that all of their wines are ready to drink when released, so, again, this wine is just not happening. If the winery would like to send us another bottle we would be happy to taste it again and alter this review, if necessary.
(Click here for an explanation of our ratings ...)
Our Rating: 82
Would we drink it again? 
Nah, I'd rather drink the $7.99 Navarrita Merlot!
Would we buy it again?
Never again!
