Merlo Family Vineyards offers its branded pinot noir and napa valley cabernet sauvignon. Let us have a look at some.
2016 Pinot Noir ($35)
This is a little bit shy for its first few minutes in the glass, its pinot has rich and velvety tannins, deep black cherry and strawberry flavors with a pleasant mix of forest floors and mineral notes. The wine covers the pallet completely from front to back and its finish does not disappoint like most California pinots. The finish lingers with pleasant dark fruits that is awaiting the neat bite. For MFV members, it goes for $26.
2014 Pinot noir ($40)
This is a little bit shy for its first few minutes in the glass, its pinot has rich and velvety tannins, deep black cherry and strawberry flavors with a pleasant mix of forest floors and mineral notes. The 2014 edition also covers the pallet completely from front to back and its finish does not disappoint like most California pinots. The finish lingers with pleasant dark fruits that is awaiting the neat bite. For MFV members, it goes for $26.
2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($79)
This particular organic wine comes with deep dark fruit flavors of black cherries and skilly complex tannin structure
2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($79)
This 2006 edition of this particular organic wine comes with deep dark fruit flavors of black cherries and skilly complex tannin structure.
There are other pinot noir and sauvignon wines around. The pinot noir organic wine from good hope is another quality option if the merlo vineyard brand is not available.
Good Hope Pinot Noir, supple, approachable, sustainable South African Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir from the Winery of Good Hope is an excellent value wine from South Africa, with supple sweet fruits, lovely texture and great freshness. We have to admit to being extremely surprised by this wine. We at Buon Vino are old world wine buffs at heart and tend to veer towards classic Burgundies for our Pinot Noir but…. well Burgundy is not cheap and so when we tasted this wine and saw the price, we were extremely pleased. If you like that sweet core of berry fruit at the heart of all good Pinot Noir and like the soft supple texture of the wine that grips without drying and softens without being flabby, then this little bottle from a sustainable vineyard in the Elgin is just the ticket.
The winery of Good Hope is a superb winery based in Somerset West in South Africa. The winery was founded in 1998 with a commitment to high quality, great value and respect for their environment. The winery produces wines under three brands, Radford Dale, their flagship wines, Vinum, a second label and the house range Good Hope, a name which reflects the origins of its region and the outlook of the winery. Although entry level in price, the wines from Good Hope have no less quality and attention to detail as the other wines from the estate, you taste the quality and are then surprised by the price. The fruit is sourced from the Helderberg area in Stellenbosch, Elgin, and the Perderberg area in the Swartland. The focus is on as natural a production as possible although the vineyards are not certified organic. Their aim is to follow a few guiding principles in the production. They grow healthy vines by focusing on vine health and the development of the plant’s own immunity, they are bug-friendly and promote beneficial microorganisms and, in so doing, decrease the effect of nasty ones, they use birds of prey rather than poison to keep the rodents from uprooting the vines. Finally, they are down to earth and have implemented a composting programme that’s gradually replaced the need for fertiliser. The wine making process is non-interventionist, allowing spontaneous ferments with native yeast, and keeping the sulphur level down.
All these wines are great wines, they have the fruity vibrancy of the New World with an honest sense of the ground and the grape variety. The Pinot Noir and Sauvignon is the best from the New World we have tried at this price and makes for a great alternative to Burgundy on a budget. The Syrah, Chenin and a buster of an un-oaked Chardonnay make up this excellent value mixed case. We hope you enjoy them.
