2015 Tate Wines Merlot – A Muscular Merlot!
Last night opened a 2015 Tate Wines Merlot from St Helena, Napa Valley. Suzanne and David Tate have provided an extremely robust Merlot. Dark ruby on the eyes with a medium to medium heavy viscosity. On the nose a dark fruit compote leads to a beautiful sweet & sour cherry and plum fruit with red licorice. The finish provides a hint of oak and cedar with soft tannins but with some edginess not often found in a “smooth” Merlot which was an enjoyable treat! Also on the finish pomegranate with medium acidity. This is not a soft and comforting Merlot more like a bone embracing bone breaking solid bear hug with a big squeeze! A remarkable Merlot made for Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers.
For more background on Tate Wines read this earlier post:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/08/tate-wines/
Sláinte,
Michael
