De Loach Merlot Russian River Valley

Oaky nose. Velvety mouth feel with fully matured tannins and sour cherry undertones. Some acid lingers on the finish. A little overoaked at this point.

- Garnet color.

This was supposed to be well past it's prime, but has held well. Nothing special, but it wasn't spolied.

Thin and whimpy, there's just nothing to it

An average Cali Cab. Cost $6.50 for a half bottle. Not as bad as other marginal Cabs, but not my favourite. Alcohol 13.5% by volume. Per deloachvineyards.com: 95% Cab, 5% Merlot. Alcohol 14.5% by volume. Estate-grown grapes hand-harvested October 5th – 24th, 2000, from vines planted in 1969 on Los Amigos Ranch. Fermented in small lots and then aged 10 months in American oak. Scents of cedar, cassis and oregano, married with maple and red cherry on the palate.

This wine is six years old and about at its peak. The color is deep garnet. The nose has black cherries and casis but is not very large. The light to medium size taste yields flavors of red and black cherries and currants. The finish is short to medium on cherries.

Black Cherry, medium body.

Vanilla and a little cedar on the nose overpowered the fruit. Palate was the same with little tannin or structure.