The California-Australia Wine Shootout™

Merlot

Reynolds 2001 Reserve Merlot, Orange, New South Wales, Australia 4,000 cases produced

Aromas of milk chocolate, plum, licorice, sandalwood, spicy, earthy tones, caramel, raspberry, pomegranate, and savory spice are followed by a sassy entry of blackberry, cassis and acid to carry through to medium length finish with integrated tannins. A more masculine style of Merlot with a good amount of depth and viscosity.

(90)

Carmenet 2001 Merlot, Sonoma County, California, $24.00
5,000 cases produced

A very youthful wine with black plum and tar aromas, dark fruit and spice notes accented by toasted oak in the mouth and soft tannins on the finish.

(87)

Barefoot Reserve 2002 Merlot, Alexander Valley, California, $15.99
1,949 cases produced

Plum over black cherry with oaky backnotes on the nose…red fruit nicely integrated with oak and tannin. A straight forward statement of the varietal.

(85)

Frei Brothers Reserve 2001 Dry Creek Valley Merlot, Dry Creek Valley, California, $20.00
39,000 cases produced

Smith Brothers cough drops with smoke, graham cracker and earthy notes in the nose. Concentrated black fruit on entry, the mid-palate is light but the wine comes back full on finish. A young wine with big wood, interesting…earthy, spicy and dusty tannins on finish.

(85)

Kangaroo Ridge 2002 Merlot, Southeastern Australia, $7.00
12,000 cases imported

Sweet, ripe, syrupy black cherry throughout with a nice acid balance. A simple but fun wine that is easy to drink.

(85)

Gallo of Sonoma 2002 Merlot, Sonoma County, California, $11.00
115,000 cases produced

Ripe raisin and plum fruit, some anise and herbs with nice oak on nose. The mouth is ripe and grapey, soft and accessible. The dustiness in the mouth detracts from the ripe fruit.

(83)

McWilliams Hanwood Estate 2002 Merlot, Southeastern Australia, $11.00
36,000 cases produced

Dusty red fruit aromas with simple sweet black cherry and plum entry. Mid-palate is tart with dusty tannins that carry all the way through.

(83)

Burlwood 2003 Merlot, California, $7.99
25,000 cases produced

Blueberry and plum in the nose and on the palate. A simple but pleasant wine in mid-mouth with too much oak on finish.

(82)

Cloverdale Ranch 2001 Merlot, Alexander Valley, California, $20.00
3,303 cases produced

The American oak dominates here with heavy dill notes. The wine rounds out on the palate with black olive and smoke notes.

(82)

Yellow Tail 2003 Merlot, South Eastern Australia, $6.99
80,000 cases produced

Extracted black fruit with slight cough medicine qualities mid- to late palate. The finish is short and tart.

(82)