Reviews & Ratings

2007 Gainey Merlot "Santa Ynez Valley"

Winery: Gainey

Vintage: 2007

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Santa Ynez Valley"

Wine Category: Merlot

Grape blend: 95% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, & 1% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Santa Ynez

State or country: CA

Price: $19

Cases produced: 3,500

KWG Score: 88.6 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good (89)

Review date: August 29, 2011

Wine Review: This opaque and dark purple colored Merlot opens with a blueberry and blackberry bouquet with hints of campfire and earth. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and smooth. The flavor profile is a gentle oak infused plum. The panel also detected hints of blackberry and black cherry. The finish is rather dry and its moderate tannins stick around for quite some time. The panel thought this wine would pair well with a cigar and a ribeye or a lamb chop. Enjoy - KWGTP

Winemaker Notes: Introduced by its shimmering ruby color, our 2007 Merlot opens with enticingly fresh, vivid aromas of black cherry and red plum fruit, perfectly complemented by fragrant rose hips tea, sweet oak and light herbal tones. In the mouth, the flavors are startlingly rich, creamy and luscious, with concentrated red cherry and plum skin fruitiness invigorated by seeped-tea spice tones and tangy acidity. Although Merlot is stereotyped as a drink-me now red, the deep fruit and superb structure of this rendition argue for one to three years of aging. Those who can't wait are advised to uncork this beauty with herb-roasted chicken or Merlot-marinated game hen.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Gainey 2007 Merlot.