Gary Farrell Winery
Merlot
Sonoma County
Healdsburg, California, USA
2001
14.2%
$20.99 -- Twin Liquors, Austin, TX
Color: Medium garnet
Nose: Bright cherry, herbes de Provence, licorice
Body: Medium
Front: Cassis
Middle: Cherry, sage
Back: Coffee, graham cracker
Burns clean?: Yes
Cap: Cork
What a delicious wine this is. I'm going to go back and get more this weekend. It's not terrifically complex, but it's beautifully balanced, with tart fruit and sweeter notes, almost imperceptible tannins, and an herby, hypnotizing nose. There's not much oak: no vanilla, no milkiness, perhaps only a very light pineyness at the edges. The bottle declares it to be 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet, and it's got a Bordeauxish flavor, though I couldn't be more specific as I haven't had enough Bordeaux, by a long shot--a situation that I will have to remedy soon.
