Tasting-Bonterra: Merlot

 

This is Bonterra:

Grape Variety: Merlot

Country of Origin: United States

Region of Origin: California

Vintage Year: 2021

Price: $15.99 at Kroger

My Boyfriend and I tried this wine a day after we had tried the Cabernet Sauvignon. This time we did not pair this wine with any food, just simply tasted this one. 

Wine Folly (Page 131-132) General Merlot: When tasting this wine, I definitely got the notes of chocolate and cherry that Wine Folly talks about, I could even smell the notes of chocolate prior to tasting this wine. However, I did not really get any notes of plums, herbs, or vanilla. This wine was much sweeter in comparison to the Cabernet Sauvignon that we had tasted previously. The levels of tannins were obviously lower, still dry on the finish but not as punchy as the cabernet. 

Wine Folly (Page 292) California Merlot: Like mentioned, I definitely got the cherry notes in this wine, but for a California Merlot, I did not get any graphite, wood, or cedar elements like Wine Folly mentioned. However, I did notice that the tannins in this wine were much softer and smoother. 

My Review: Again, I am not a huge fan of red wines (this class is changing my mind on that actually). But again, this wine proved me wrong. It was delicious! Instantly I could smell the stronger notes of cherry and chocolate, and it was the first thing I noticed when I tasted this wine. As it sat, I thought the chocolate came through much stronger than the cherry. I also noticed that once I reached the end of my pour, there was sediment in the bottom on my glass! I had just watched a wine IQ video explaining sediment so it was really cool to understand that the tannins in this wine had softened and dissolved over time, and you could tell the tannins had done this as well. Overall 10/10. 

Wine Critic Review: 

"A simple Merlot that combines fresh and dried fruits of prune, raisin, blackberry and blueberry along with assertive oak. In the mix is 2% Petite Sirah, 3% Rubired and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon."