In the glass, this Merlot out of the Applegate Valley AVA of OR has a dark purple center with red raspberry edges surrounded by a thin hot pink halo….
A sniff is a BLAST of sweet raspberries and black cherries before a bit of mushroomy funk stumbles into the room ———–> A revisit pulls out a touch of bonfire smoke and I’m DYING for a taste….
The palate starts lively and bright with a bing cherry and juicy cranberry square dance ———–> A chew and a swish unleashes more of the red raspberries I got in the nose but with red licorice and anise before this bad boy finishes with a super subtle but still evident amount of peaty smokiness sitting on some chalky tannins that leave me salivating….
Here’s a fun little OR Merlot from Jackalope Cellars ———> I’m LOVING the fresh complexity of this guy but am ABSOLUTELY GUSHING over the subtle smokiness I wasn’t expecting!!!! π§π§π§ Listen to this wine by a bonfire with something like Ray LaMontagne – Hannah
2017 Jackalope Wine Cellars “Merlot” Applegate Valley OR