Full Review

Cloud Break

Cloud Break
2018 Barrel Reserve, Merlot, California

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
86 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended

Cloud Break
2018 Barrel Reserve, Merlot, California

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
Deep purple color. Aromas and flavors of raspberry preserves, pencil shavings, pomegranate, and toast with a round, crisp, fruity medium-to-full body and a smooth, amusing, medium-length finish with notes of blonde tobacco, saddle leather, and cola with chewy tannins and moderate oak flavor. A jammy casual red that will hit the spot.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Oaky & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: raspberry preserves, pencil shavings, pomegranate, and toast
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of blonde tobacco, saddle leather, and cola
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A jammy casual red that will hit the spot.

The Producer

O’Neill Vintners & Distillers

The Producer
101 Larkspur Landing Circle
Suite 350
Larkspur, CA 94939
USA
1 559-638-3544

Their Portfolio

88 Austerity 2018 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $.00.
87 Austerity 2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey 14.5% (USA) $.00.
90 Austerity 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.5% (USA) $16.00.
90 Austerity 2018 Chardonnay, Arroyo Secco 13.5% (USA) $16.00.
88 Austerity 2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey 14.5% (USA) $16.00.
BR Black Cloud 2018 Barrel Reserve Red Blend, California 13.5% (USA) $.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Buttercup 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
85 Buttercup 2018 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.00.
88 Buttercup 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $9.00.
88 Buttercup 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.99.
BR Buttercup 2020 Rose, California 12.5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
87 Centerpiece 2018 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
85 Cloud Break 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, California 12.5% (USA) $10.99.
86 Cloud Break 2018 Barrel Reserve, Merlot, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
87 Cloud Break 2018 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
BR Cloud Break 2018 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Cloud Break 2019 Winemaker’s Reserve Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $8.99. - Bronze Medal
87 Cloud Break 2018 Barrel Reserve, Petite Sirah, California 13.5% (USA) $9.00.
BR Cloud Break 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, California 12.5% (USA) $9.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Cloud Break 2019 Black Cloud Red Blend, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
87 Cloud Break 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2019 Moscato, California 9.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Cloud Break 2020 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
88 Cloud Break 2019 Winemaker’s Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, California 12.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2019 Merlot, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Cloud Break 2020 Pinot Grigio, California 12.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Cloud Break 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Creamery 2018 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $.00.
85 Creamery 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.99.
85 Day Owl 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $14.99.
87 Day Owl 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
BR Day Owl 2020 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $14.99. - Bronze Medal
85 Exitus 2017 Red Blend, California 15.9% (USA) $19.00.
87 Fireband 2018 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
86 Fireband 2017 Barrel Reserve, Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
87 Firebrand 2017 Barrel Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
85 Firebrand 2017 Barrel Reserve, Merlot, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
BR Firebrand 2017 Barrel Reserve Red Blend, California 13.5% (USA) $.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Firebrand 2018 Reserve, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.00.
87 Firebrand 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $9.00.
85 Firebrand 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
85 Firebrand 2019 Winemaker’s Reserve, Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
86 Firebrand 2020 Barrel Fermented , Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
87 Game Box 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $24.99.
87 Game Box 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.500000000000001% (USA) $24.99.
85 Game Box 2019 Pinot Grigio, California 12.5% (USA) $24.99.
85 Game Box 2019 Pinot Grigio, California 12% (USA) $24.99.
BR Game Box 2020 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $24.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Golden Circle 2019 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.99.
85 Gravelly Ford 2018 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
87 Gravelly Ford 2017 Pinot Noir, California 13% (USA) $.00.
88 Harken 2018 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $.00.
91 Harken 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
88 Harken 2019 Barrel-Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
92 Intercept 2018 Chardonnay, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $.00.
92 Intercept 2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey County 15% (USA) $.00.
92 Intercept 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 15% (USA) $19.00.
91 Intercept 2017 Red Blend, Paso Robles 15.7% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey County 15% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2018 Pinot Noir, Monterey County 15% (USA) $19.00.
85 Intercept 2018 Chardonnay, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2019 Chardonnay, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2018 Red Blend, Paso Robles 15% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $19.99.
87 Intercept 2019 Pinot Noir, Monterey 15% (USA) $19.99.
87 Intercept 2018 Red Blend, Paso Robles 15.0% (USA) $19.99.
89 Intercept 2019 Chardonnay, Monterey 13.5% (USA) $19.99.
86 Line 39 2017 Merlot, California 14.5% (USA) $10.99.
86 Line 39 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $10.99.
BR Line 39 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13.5% (USA) $10.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Line 39 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $10.99.
88 Line 39 2018 Petite Sirah, California 14.5% (USA) $10.00.
BR Line 39 2017 Excursion Red Blend, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Line 39 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00.
86 Line 39 2018 Merlot, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00.
86 Line 39 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00.
89 Line 39 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00.
BR Line 39 2018 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Line 39 2018 Pinot Grigio, California 13% (USA) $10.00.
87 Line 39 2018 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00.
85 Line 39 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $10.00.
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Pinot Noir, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Pinot Noir, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Pinot Noir, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Rosé Spritzer, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Rose, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Rose, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Line 39 NV Spritzer, Sauvignon Blanc, California 5% (USA) $12.99.
86 Line 39 NV Spritzer, Sauvignon Blanc, California 5% (USA) $12.99.
86 Line 39 NV Spritzer, Sauvignon Blanc, California 5% (USA) $12.99.
BR Magna Terra 2018 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Magna Terra 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $7.99.
85 Root Cause 2018 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $.00.
86 Root Cause 2017 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $.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.