Full Review

Broadside

Broadside
2021 Santa Margarita Ranch, Merlot, Paso Robles

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5% RS: .9%
Sustainability in Practice Certified
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$14
Best Buy

Broadside
2021 Santa Margarita Ranch, Merlot, Paso Robles

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5% RS: .9%
Brown brick red color. Aromas of cinnamon, clove, and star anise, plum, and black tea with a medium body and a medium cherry, chocolate, and incense finish. Richly spiced and complex, this is a bigger and bolder iteration of Merlot.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: cinnamon, clove, and star anise, plum, and black tea
Taste Flavor: cherry, chocolate, and incense
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Richly spiced and complex, this is a bigger and bolder iteration of Merlot.

The Producer

Wine Hooligans LLC

The Producer
980 Airway Court
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
USA
1 707-527-7355

Their Portfolio

86 1797 2019 Bourbon Barrel Aged, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $22.00.
93 Broadside 2019 Single Vineyard Margarita Vineyard, Merlot, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $17.00.
94 Broadside 2019 Paso Robles Margarita Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $24.00.
91 Broadside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $17.00.
BR Broadside 2020 Chardonnay, Central Coast 14.5% (USA) $17.00. - Bronze Medal
89 Broadside 2020 Sip Certified, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.5% (USA) $17.00.
90 Broadside 2020 Santa Margarita Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.5% (USA) $22.00.
92 Broadside 2021 Santa Margarita Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $29.00.
87 Broadside 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.5% (USA) $17.00.
88 Broadside 2021 Santa Margarita Ranch, Merlot, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $17.00.
87 Broadside 2021 Chardonnay, Central Coast 13.5% (USA) $17.00.
88 Broadside 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
85 Broadside 2021 Chardonnay, Central Coast 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
87 Broadside 2021 Santa Margarita Ranch, Merlot, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
87 Cycles Gladiator 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 14.5% (USA) $12.00.
88 Cycles Gladiator 2019 Pinot Noir, California 14.5% (USA) $12.00.
88 Cycles Gladiator 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13.5% (USA) $12.00.
BR Cycles Gladiator 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13.5% (USA) $13.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Cycles Gladiator 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 14.5% (USA) $13.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Cycles Gladiator 2020 Pinot Noir, California 14.5% (USA) $13.00.
88 Cycles Gladiator 2020 Merlot, California 14.5% (USA) $13.00.
BR Cycles Gladiator 2020 Red Blend, California 15% (USA) $13.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Cycles Gladiator 2020 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $13.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Cycles Gladiator 2021 Chardonnay, California 13% (USA) $13.00.
88 Cycles Gladiator 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $12.00.
BR Cycles Gladiator 2021 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Cycles Gladiator 2021 Merlot, California 13.5% (USA) $12.00.
85 Cycles Gladiator 2021 Chardonnay, California 13% (USA) $12.00.
87 Cycles Gladiator 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $9.00.
86 Cycles Gladiator 2021 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $9.00.
87 Cycles Gladiator 2021 Chardonnay, California 13% (USA) $9.00.
86 Portlandia 2019 Red Blend, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $21.00.
86 Portlandia 2019 Red Blend, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $21.00.
92 Portlandia 2019 Big Believer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 13.5% (USA) $21.00.
92 Portlandia 2019 Big Believer Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 13.5% (USA) $21.00.
85 Portlandia 2020 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $21.00.
85 Portlandia 2020 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $21.00.
93 Portlandia 2021 Rosé, Columbia Valley 12.5% (USA) $17.00.
90 Portlandia 2021 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley/Willamette Valley 13.5% (USA) $17.00.
87 Portlandia NV Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine, Columbia Valley 12% (USA) $21.00.
88 Portlandia NV Brut Sparkling Wine, Columbia Valley 12% (USA) $21.00.
89 Portlandia 2020 Big Believer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $22.00.
92 Portlandia 2020 Red Blend, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $22.00.
85 Portlandia 2021 Pinot Gris, American 13.5% (USA) $12.00.
88 Portlandia 2021 Pinot Noir, Oregon 13.5% (USA) $17.00.
88 Portlandia 2020 Big Believer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 14.5% (USA) $17.00.
88 Shortbread 2019 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
86 Shortbread 2020 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $17.00.
86 Shortbread 2021 Buttery, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
86 Shortbread 2021 Buttery, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
91 Stephen Vincent 2019 Pinot Noir, North Coast 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
88 Stephen Vincent 2019 Chardonnay, North Coast 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
89 Stephen Vincent 2020 Pinot Noir, North Coast 13.5% (USA) $15.00.
BR Stephen Vincent 2021 Chardonnay, North Coast 13.5% (USA) $17.00. - Bronze Medal
88 Stephen Vincent 2021 Pinot Noir, North Coast 14.5% (USA) $17.00.

Merlot

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Merlot is a red variety that is loved by consumers, yet often shunned by certain wine gurus and critics, as they perceive these wines as “little sisters” to the more powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Yet on its own, the best examples of Merlot are multi-layered, complex wines that are among the finest in the world.

Merlot has many similar flavors to Cabernet Sauvignon, especially with its cherry and plum fruit, but is has fewer, less sharp tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon. Many producers whether in Bordeaux, America, Chile or elsewhere, often blend small percentages of Merlot into Cabernet Sauvignon to lessen the tannic bitterness of the latter.

A few districts in France’s Bordeaux region, namely Pomerol, are home to the greatest examples of Merlot. Chateau Petrus is the world’s most famous example of Merlot, a powerful wine that ages beautifully for 30 or 40 years in the best vintages. There are also celebrated examples from American, especially in Washington’s Walla Walla valley as well as in Napa Valley in California. Merlot is also very successful in Chile, New Zealand and even in certain part of Italy.

Merlot pairs best with foods such as lamb or veal, but it also sought out by consumers to accompany steaks and roast when they want a rounder, more elegant red wine.