2016 MadoroM Merlot – A Standout Merlot
The Winery
MadoroM Vineyards and Winery is a family affair creating handcrafted and artisan wines from Napa Valley grapes. They produce, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, a Proprietary Red Blend (see a previous article for a background at: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/10/07/2018-madorom-camouflage-proprietary-red-wine/ ) and Sauvignon Blanc. Their new tasting room is located on the Silverado Trail. MadoroM wines is a collaboration of Andy and Marissa Amador and the talented winemaker Mike Blom. At age 27, Andy purchased a 188 acre ranch in the eastern Napa Valley and he planted 50 acres on the property. He later planted a vineyard at the base of Mt. Veeder. The name MadoroM is an incorporation of all their names!
The Wine
If you are a fan of the move Sideways and distain Merlot’s that are blah and timid, I would like to introduce you to a “strong and hearty Merlot”! I pulled this wine last night to go with this delicious meal. I last tried this wine a year ago and was impressed and now continue to be! On the eyes a charismatic brick red juice presented itself with a medium heavy viscosity. On the nose, juicy red plum overcame the senses with expectation of a rich and lavish Merlot. On the palate, red and tart cherries burst into the mouth, bringing with it lightly toasted oakiness, followed by surprisingly defined tannins and structure not normally associated with Merlot. On the finish it was a mouth filling delight with a longish and drawn out enjoyment. This is why I have called it the Paul Bunyan of Merlot’s! Personally I think to the average consumer in a blind tasting, it might even pass as a Cabernet Sauvignon! Voted as one of the Best Wines Tasted in 2021 and it will continue to be in 2022. Their current release is the 2017 and is listed on their website for $75 and it is a steal for this big, bold and delicious Merlot.
The Food and Wine Pairing
This meal was fantastically prepared with beef Teriyaki stir-fry with snow peas and green onions. The ingredients included: flank steak marinated in a Teriyaki sauce (Kinder’s Marinade & Sauce, Sweet & Spicy Teriyaki), fresh snow peas, sea salt, beef stock, dry sherry, Asian red chili peppers, cornstarch, garlic cloves, grated ginger root and green onions/scallions served over rice. A fresh garden salad accompanied the dish. The flavor was definitely warm and spicy for the beef with the peppers, ginger and onions. The Merlot wine was perfect blanketing it with fruit forward cherry and plum flavoring, a mild sweetness and yet strong enough to stand up to the stir-fry beef. Not too many Merlot’s could handle this dish!
If you have been turned off by Merlot’s, this 2016 MadoroM Merlot will bring you back to being an advocate of this once popular wine.
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 