The 3000 ft. elevation of the vineyards at Madroña tends to produce a Merlot of firmer tannin structure than is commonly found in other areas. This elevation also contributes a distinctive complexity to our Merlot. There are usually notes of currant, plum, cherry, and tea-leaf, with hints of toasty oak. While ready to drink upon release, our Merlot always rewards further bottle age.
The 2005 Vintage
I believe it was The Queensbury Dictionary of Old and Popular Wine Vernacular* that defined “Merlot” as “a lackluster variety grown in too many regions producing a flat, simple wine with few redeeming qualities.” Of course, many wine connoisseurs take this to heart without really challenging the entire premise, that Merlot can and should be an intriguing and intense wine.
So when a mountain-grown Merlot like Madroña’s 2005 vintage comes around, some may make the faux pas of ignorance, and choose instead to sample yet another overripe Pinot from the winery du jour. And what would they be missing other than a mind-opening experience? First and foremost, our 2005 Merlot is a wine of integrity, exhibiting classic Merlot characters with a nuance of something more (Malbec).
The nose is riveting with ripe plum and home-canned cherry fruit. Drizzled in is a hint of soy sauce, delicate floral aromas and a sprinkling of celery salt for complexity. And if you let the wine sit in a Bordeaux glass for just a couple minutes more, the bouquet blossoms with blueberry, black raspberry and a luscious grape licorice sense that can only be the subtle influence of the Malbec blended in.
The palate is fresh and vibrant, the antithesis of the Queensbury definition. Medium-bodied and almost a little tight at this young age, the mouthfeel is strikingly intense, enveloping every nook and cranny on the palate. Bright cherry fruit balanced by a deep, dark plum backbone are the core, carrying throughout the entire wine. Notes of sweet toasty oak linger on the finish, slowly marrying in the firm youthful tannins.
And talk about a great food wine! Not only does this Merlot showcase great cuts of beef, but a pairing with a red-sauce pasta is positively fantastic (something my closed mind had a hard time accepting). But why wouldn’t it? It’s a great Merlot defying definition! *There’s no such publication, at least that I am aware of.
Printable wine description and facts (2004 Merlot Fact Sheet)
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