Reviews & Ratings

2006 Chalk Hill Merlot "Estate Bottled"

Winery: Chalk Hill

Vintage: 2006

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Estate Bottled"

Wine Category: Merlot

Grape blend: 80% Merlot & 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Chalk Hill

State or country: CA

Price: $51

Cases produced: 1,827

KWG Score: 88.6 (based on 5 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: December 13, 2009

Wine Review: This is a Merlot that is going to appeal to Cab drinkers and fans of big wines. It is slightly opaque and very dark purple in color. It opens with a fragrant red raspberry and cranberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, wonderfully balanced, and super silky. The flavor profile is a very tasty black raspberry with notes of oak and a hint of cranberry. The finish is quite dry and its dusty tannins linger for quite sometime. In the near term, the wine would benefit from decanting before you serve it with beef bourguignon. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Our Merlot's soft yet elegant structure is created in the vineyard through low yields, abundant sun exposure, canopy management and hang time. The wine presents a balance and elegance between ripe Merlot fruit and site-specific earthiness. Aromas of summer brush, huckleberry, eucalyptus and a slight smokiness are matched on the palate with violets, blueberry fruit, milk chocolate and moist earth.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Chalk Hill 2006 Merlot.