Full Review

Cloud Break

Cloud Break
2019 Merlot, California

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5% RS: .35%
Bronze Medal
Recommended
$9.99

Cloud Break
2019 Merlot, California

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5% RS: .35%
Brick red color. Aromas and flavors of baked plums dusted with cocoa, cornichons, chicory coffee, and sarsaparilla with a supple, bright, fruity medium body and a silky, breezy finish with overtones of chocolate pudding and cedar and sandalwood with dusty tannins and heavy oak flavor. A straightforward Merlot with a deft dose of oak.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, New World, Oaky & Quaffable
Aroma Aroma: baked plums dusted with cocoa, cornichons, chicory coffee, and sarsaparilla
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with overtones of chocolate pudding and cedar and sandalwood
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A straightforward Merlot with a deft dose of oak.

The Producer

O’Neill Vintners & Distillers

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

Their Portfolio

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.
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
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
85 Creamery 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.99.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
85 Magna Terra 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $7.99.

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.