Full Review

Fog River

Fog River
2016 Merlot, Monterey County

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
88 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$15
Best Buy
'2020 World Value Wine Challenge-Top 10 Red Wine $15 and Under'

Fog River
2016 Merlot, Monterey County

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.5%
Dusty garnet color. Aromas and flavors of cranberry, tart plum, graphite, ripe orange, and green tea with a lightly tannic, crisp, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a smooth, engaging, medium-length finish manifesting suggestions of baking chocolate and tea leaves with moderate oak flavor. A smooth-sipping Merlot with vibrant fruit.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Oaky & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: cranberry, tart plum, graphite, ripe orange, and green tea
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with suggestions of baking chocolate and tea leaves
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A smooth-sipping Merlot with vibrant fruit.

The Producer

Appellation Ventures, LLC

The Producer
5570 Skylane Blvd, Suite C
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
USA
1 916-912-9559

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.