Gallo Family Vineyards / Gallo of Sonoma Merlot

Received as a gift. Don't waste your money. No depth, no character. Tasted like medicine, not sure how best to describe it. Dark purple, strong intense, nose burning aroma.

Well aged, paired well with classic spaghetti and meatballs.

This was an extra pleasant surprise. I had never heard of this producer, and ran across a bottle almost by chance. This is a 2008 that has benefited from the bottle aging, but still has a vibrant entry of very youngish fruit. Super dark purple color. As almost "Old World" nose featuring more non fruit than fruit aromas, like crushed cocoa bean, black tea, graphite, charcoal, and a hint of green pepper. Plenty of the kind of oak that gives …