2/24/2015 - Champagneinhand Does not like this wine:

I thought some were being very harsh on a qpr, Merlot from a warm vintage that was most likely fermented and aged in steel with toasted spirals of oak trying to give it some finesse, but really this is one of the worst examples of wA merlot or Merlot in general that is one the market. This isn't a great QPR. This is a very warm vintage, but the flavors from oak are barrel or even barrique flavors but stuff from chips and circular toasted pieces which are really nothing but modern ways to attempt to give a wine, aged appearance. Really not good. Cocoa and chocolate make their appearances, but don't come with consistency or the acids that make a decent merlot. I was harsh reading some of the revues saying look towards Chile, but really good wA and CA Merlot exist but you will pay money to see and rink them and cellar time will be mandatory. Yes Italian greats are there, and the best qpr is from Unbria, in falsetto Merlot or whatever they have it branded for, in Wegman's its La Famiglie. Really unless you want to pay $30 for the better Right Bank bargains in Fronsac and I am speaking of La Vielle Cure or Chateau Fontenil, then you better give up on Melrot as a varietal as this is a piss poor example of what Merlot can offer and more of a warning of what to watch out for. Really, choose the Grand Estates Cabernet or go to the Two Vines Merlot-Cab Franc as a way better bet, than this crap. Faked, as in threaded oak shaving that have been toasted, all being legal in cA, but this isn't representative of real WA Columbia Valley or other Merlot. Shame on CC for letting this crap out on the market and shame even more on WS and others for buying in to this travesty.