Blackstone Merlot - $10.49

Wine Details

Price: $10.49
Producer: Blackstone
Region: California
Varietal: Merlot
Container Size: 750 ML
Flavors: currant, herbal, plum, vanilla
  • Award Winning
  • Red Wine
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Product Description

  • The 2005 Blackstone Merlot perfectly demonstrates the "Blackstone style" - rich fruit aromas, elegance, supple oak characters and soft tannins. With lifted dark cherry and berry aromas and a touch of spicy clove, this wine is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The texture is ripe and soft in the mouth, with bright cherry fruit flavors and a soft, lingering finish. Blackstone Merlot will pair nicely with rack of lamb, grilled burgers and tomato-based pasta dishes.

Expert Ratings

Ratings   Vintage Source Flavors
WineSpectator - 81 Details: Heavy-handed on the charry oak notes, which eclipse pleasant plum and spice flavors on a medium frame. Drink now. 850,000 cases made. – 2003 WineSpectator
WineSpectator - 81 Details: Simple, but round, with currant, plum and herbal tones framed by vanilla. Drink now. 850,000 cases made. – 2002 WineSpectator currant, herbal, plum, vanilla
WineEnthusiast - 85 Details: Very dry, somewhat tannic, and with jammy plum, currant and herb flavors, this wine is a good value in a full-bodied dinner red. It’s balanced and fresh, and the somewhat sharp acids will cut through lamb or steak. 2002 WineEnthusiast currant, herb flavors, jammy, plum
WineSpectator - 85 Details: Soft and supple, with spice, black cherry and pomegranate flavors that fold into fresh herb and cedar notes. Drink now through 2005. 800,000 cases made. –JL 2001 WineSpectator
1999 WineSpectator currant, plum, toasty oak
WineEnthusiast - 84 Details: Packed with berry and spice aromas, this rustic wine has jagged tannins. It’s your basic table red, with good acidity, alcohol, a deep color, and ripe flavors. Best of all, the price tag is just right. 1999 WineEnthusiast berry, spice
WineSpectator - 81 Details: Shows a core of herbal plum and cherry flavors. Finishes with cedary notes and mild tannins. Drink now. 150,000 cases made. –JL 1997 WineSpectator cherry, herbal, plum
Tastings - 84 Details: Pale ruby red with a bright cast. Sweet berry aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate with sweet fruit and oak flavors. Acids are quite low and tannins are soft through the finish. An easy-drinking quaffer for near-term consumption 1997 Tastings oak
Tastings - 85 Details: Dark ruby to the rim with brilliant clarity. Medium-bodied. Balanced acidity. Moderately extracted. Mildly tannic. Red fruits, vanilla. Straightforward and flavorful, with a well-integrated palate feel. Pleasantly structured through the finish 1996 Tastings red fruits, vanilla
WineSpectator - 81 Details: Serves up a modest array of ripe plum and cherry flavors, turning simple on the finish. 30,000 cases made. – 1995 WineSpectator cherry, plum
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Food Pairings

Category Pairing
Red Meat Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Wild Game - Elk, Caribou, Moose, Venison, Casseroles / Hot Dish
Pasta & Grains Lasagna
Poultry & Eggs Roast Chicken with Herbs
Vegetables Beans, White, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Tomato
Sauces Red Wine Sauce

Awards and Accolades

  Name Vintage
Award Winner Silver - 2008 San Diego Int'l Wine Competition 2006

Wine Terms

Name Value
Merlot (mer loh) Deep in color, high in alcohol and low in tannins, this grape is grown mostly in California, France, Washington, New York and Chile. The aromas and flavors can be plummy, chocolaty, and even redolent of tea leaves. It is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon although it is the most prevalent grape variety in Bordeaux.
United States Wineries exist in all fifty states, but the most predominant (and best) wine comes from Northern California, Oregon, and Washington State, with New York gaining a foothold in the industry. American wines make up about 75% of all wine sales in the US. The appellation system uses the term AVA (American Viticultural Area) to determine where wines were produced, but grape varieties can be planted anywhere in the country. American wineries generally use varietal labeling, and government regulations require that the variety on the label must make up at least 75% of the blend (in Oregon it’s 90%). The words reserve, special selection, private reserve, classic, and so on have no legal definition in the US. Some wineries use these terms to indicate their better wines; others use the words as a marketing tool to move lower quality wines off the shelf.
California California produces the majority of wine made in the United States. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir dominate the wine production in California, but many other varietials thrive in the California climate. Many fine wines are produced in California using Mediterranean grapes.

Tasting Notes

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