I've been making some effort recently to find a Merlot that aspires to more than cough syrup and oak flavors. I found one in the Havens 2005 Napa Valley Merlot, but unfortunately it still was disappointing despite clearly being a serious wine.
The bouquet, with a distinct Bretty horsiness at the forefront, was one that a wine drinker will either love or hate. After about an hour of decanting, berry and sweet tobacco aromas emerged, and the funky mixture of smells grew on me a bit. It's definitely an interesting concoction. The palate also needed the air time as it rounded out very nicely while retaining a bit of earthiness. Unfortunately, the finish on this wine was an absolute cliff made all the more dramatic by noticeable heat. The light tannins and moderate acidity made this very approachable, but it's hard to recommend a wine that's both aromatically challenging and culminationally challenged. Ultimately this is an interesting wine, but also a wine that doesn't come together on all levels.
Score: 82-85
Price: $19 from K&L Wine Merchants
The bouquet, with a distinct Bretty horsiness at the forefront, was one that a wine drinker will either love or hate. After about an hour of decanting, berry and sweet tobacco aromas emerged, and the funky mixture of smells grew on me a bit. It's definitely an interesting concoction. The palate also needed the air time as it rounded out very nicely while retaining a bit of earthiness. Unfortunately, the finish on this wine was an absolute cliff made all the more dramatic by noticeable heat. The light tannins and moderate acidity made this very approachable, but it's hard to recommend a wine that's both aromatically challenging and culminationally challenged. Ultimately this is an interesting wine, but also a wine that doesn't come together on all levels.
Score: 82-85
Price: $19 from K&L Wine Merchants
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