Briceland Vineyards Merlot Ishi Pishi Ranch

Popped and poured. Powdery cedar aroma. Vibrant red fruit, cassis flavors. Leafy finish. Pure, clean flavors, firm backbone, some complexity, great staying power. Yet another excellent wine from Briceland and Ishi Pishi Ranch.

umm. just really oaky. sorry, not my thing.

This bottle was slightly corked.

This is pretty tasty. If I tasted this blind I would have guessed a modern styled bordeaux. I like how it is restrained for a CA wine. Some earthy notes, a little herbal note and touch of chocolatey oak. Light tannin and medium acid. Ann liked it too.

Lots of bright plum, hints of earth here and there on the nose, and something savoury and herbaceous I can't place. Palate is medium bodied, medium tannin, spicy and mineral finish. Slightly hollow in the mid-palate, as happens sometimes with Merlot. The fruit on the palate is a little darker than on the nose, but with some strawberry undertones that lighten it up. Interesting wine, and in a nice place. Not significantly different on day 2, actually.

This is the type of Merlot that makes me happy, with an earthy and freshly bruised blackberry cane savoriness that complements the sweet but restrained dark fruit, well supported by fine tannin and a twist of acid.

Pours a deep garnet with a heavily perfumed nose of florals, red cherry, and red berries. The flavors generally followed the nose, with the fruit growing to a darker red with some air with a hint of cranberry. Medium bodied with good acidity and a lingering finish. 13.2% abv; made from organic grapes. Good stuff.