Full Review

Kwaya Cellars

Kwaya Cellars
2019 Organic, Merlot, North Coast

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$16

Kwaya Cellars
2019 Organic, Merlot, North Coast

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14%
Dark dusty violet color. Aromas and flavors of blackberry wine, dried dates, graphite, and apples with a chewy, crisp, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a sleek, appealing, medium-long finish with woody tannins and moderate oak flavor. An oaky, slightly funky Merlot for the natural set.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth & Oaky
Aroma Aroma: blackberry wine, dried dates, graphite, and apples
Taste Flavor: blackberry wine, dried dates, graphite, and apples
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 oaky, slightly funky Merlot for the natural set.

The Producer

Frey Vineyards Ltd.

The Producer
14000 Tomki Rd
Redwood Valley, CA 95470
USA
1 707-485-5177

Their Portfolio

85 Chateau Frey 2018 Organic, Pinot Gris, Mendocino 13.9% (USA) $18.00.
88 Chateau Frey 2019 Organic Red, Mendocino 14% (USA) $18.00.
BR Frey 2016 Organic, Dolcetto, Mendocino 13.7% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Frey 2016 Organic, Sangiovese, Mendocino 13.6% (USA) $15.00.
BR Frey 2018 Biodynamic, Tempranillo, Mendocino 13.8% (USA) $16.50. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey 2018 Organic, Charbono, Mendocino 14.1% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey NV Organic Agriculturist Blanc, California 14% (USA) $12.50. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey 2019 Organic, Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast 14.3% (USA) $14.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey NV Organic White, California 13.9% (USA) $9.00. - Bronze Medal
88 Frey 2018 Organic , Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast 13.9% (USA) $17.00.
85 Frey 2018 Organic , Malbec, Mendocino 14.4% (USA) $15.00.
88 Frey 2018 Organic, Merlot, North Coast 14.3% (USA) $15.00.
BR Frey 2018 Biodynamic, Chardonnay, Mendocino 14.6% (USA) $20.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Frey 2018 Biodynamic, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino 14.3% (USA) $20.00.
89 Frey 2017 Biodynamic, Zinfandel, Mendocino 13.3% (USA) $20.00.
87 Frey 2016 Organic, Carignane, Mendocino 13.8% (USA) $15.00.
88 Frey 2019 Organic, Syrah, Mendocino 14.5% (USA) $15.00.
BR Frey 2018 Organic, Viognier, California 14.2% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Frey 2018 Biodynamic, Merlot, Mendocino 14.9% (USA) $20.00.
85 Frey 2018 Biodynamic, Zinfandel, Mendocino 15.5% (USA) $20.00.
88 Frey 2018 Organic, Petite Sirah, Mendocino 12.5% (USA) $18.00.
85 Frey 2018 Biodynamic, Petite Sirah, Mendocino 13.3% (USA) $20.00.
86 Frey 2018 Organic, Tannat, Redwood Valley 14.1% (USA) $18.00.
88 Frey 2019 Biodynamic Field Blend, Mendocino 14.5% (USA) $16.50.
88 Frey 2018 Organic, Syrah, California 13.9% (USA) $18.00.
87 Frey 2019 Organic, Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast 14.3% (USA) $17.00.
BR Frey 2019 Sun & Rain, Chardonnay, Mendocino 14.5% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey 2018 Spin, Chardonnay, Mendocino 13.9% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey 2019 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino 15% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Frey NV Agriculturist Blanc, Mendocino 14% (USA) $12.50.
87 Frey NV Agriculturist Red Blend, California 14% (USA) $12.50.
87 Frey 2019 Biodynamic, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino 14% (USA) $20.00.
89 Frey 2019 Biodynamic, Syrah, Mendocino 15.4% (USA) $20.00.
BR Frey 2019 Organic, Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast 14% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey NV Organic Red Blend, California 13.9% (USA) $9.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey 2018 Organic, Sangiovese, Mendocino 13.9% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey 2019 Organic, Chardonnay, California 14% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Frey 2018 Biodynamic, Chardonnay, Mendocino County 14.6% (USA) $20.00.
85 Frey 2019 Biodynamic, Tempranillo, Mendocino 13.6% (USA) $20.00.
89 Frey 2019 Organic, Zinfandel, Mendocino 14.5% (USA) $18.00.
88 Frey 2019 Organic, Sangiovese, Mendocino 13.9% (USA) $18.00.
85 Frey 2019 Organic, Merlot, Mendocino County 14% (USA) $20.00.
BR Frey 2020 Organic, Pinot Noir, Mendocino County 13.3% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Frey 2019 Organic, Petite Sirah, Mendocino County 14.3% (USA) $18.00.
BR Frey 2020 Organic, Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino County 13.4% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Frey 2020 Biodynamic Field Blend Red, Other Red, Mendocino County 13.9% (USA) $16.00.
85 Frey 2020 Organic, Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County 12.8% (USA) $15.00.
BR Frey 2019 Biodynamic, Chardonnay, Mendocino County 14.5% (USA) $20.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Frey 2019 Biodynamic, Merlot, Mendocino County 14% (USA) $20.00. - Bronze Medal
88 Frey 2019 Biodynamic, Petite Sirah, Mendocino County 14.8% (USA) $20.00.
92 Frey 2019 Biodynamic, Zinfandel, Mendocino County 15% (USA) $20.00.
85 Frey 2018 Organic, Charbono, Mendocino County 14.1% (USA) $15.00.
87 Frey 2019 Organic, Malbec, Mendocino County 14.5% (USA) $18.00.
85 Kwaya Cellars 2019 Organic, Sangiovese, Mendocino 13.9% (USA) $16.00.
87 Kwaya Cellars 2019 Organic, Merlot, North Coast 14% (USA) $16.00.
89 Pacific Redwood 2019 Organic, Syrah, California 14.3% (USA) $18.00.
BR Pacific Redwood 2018 Organic, Pinot Noir, California 13.6% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Pacific Redwood 2019 Organic, Pinot Noir, Mendocino 13.5% (USA) $18.00.
BR Pacific Redwood 2019 Organic Cab, Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast 14% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Pacific Redwood 2019 Organic, Chardonnay, California 14% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Pacific Redwood 2020 Organic, Chardonnay, California 13.7% (USA) $15.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Pacific Redwood 2019 Organic, Merlot, Mendocino County 14% (USA) $15.00.
85 Pacific Redwood 2020 Organic, Pinot Noir, Mendocino County 13.3% (USA) $18.00.

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.