Dunnewood Vineyards Signature Napa Valley Merlot, 1999Oct 28 '04 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Dunnewood Vineyards' 1999 Signature Napa Valley Merlot is at its aging peak. I purchased at Big Lots! for under $5 per bottle. Confidently recommended.
Canandaigua Wine Company -- one of the largest wine companies in the world (a unit of Constellation Brands, Inc. -- yes; that's the company that recently offered to buy the Robert Mondavi Winery for $1.3 billion) -- acquired Dunnewood Vineyards in 1991. The winemaker at Dunnewood, George Phelan, stayed and has been responsible for the winemaking operations since 1987. He is assisted by R. Scott Loopstra and together they have been building Dunnewood's reputation as a top producer of handcrafted Mendocino County wines. That said, the wine I tried this evening was a special "Signature" release Merlot that was produced from fruit sourced from California's Napa Valley: Dunnewood Vineyards Signature Merlot, 1999 Napa Valley, California ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consumed: 10/28/04 Alcohol: About 14.5% ABV. Production: Merlot from Napa Valley. A hand-crafted wine produced in small lots, aged 12-to-14 months in a combination of French and American oak. Appearance: 5/5 Deep ruby/purple color from the center of the glass to the rim. Inviting, regal, with full color extraction. Aroma: 17/20 Toasted oak rides on top of dark fruit--blackberry and cherry with some brambly tones accented by a spicy plum. Flavor/Body: 36/40 Soft, structured, refined tannins, jammy black fruit without being sweet; nicely packaged with a biscuity oak vanillin core. Finish: 9/10 Long, even, cherry fruit and currant with a moderate oak; only slightly alcoholic despite its big 14.5% ABV muscles. Overall: 23/25 My score: 90. 4¼ Stars. Just about at its peak condition. Served with my dinner of Macaroni noodles with a tomato sauce featuring mild green chili, onions, and beef. Price and Availability: Limited production--only 7,000 cases produced. I purchased this wine at a discount retailer in Murrieta, California, for under $5 per bottle, including sales tax... a price that is appreciably less than the suggested retail price of $15+ per bottle. I got a great deal. From the label: "Essence of plums, black cherry, and toasty oak open to subtle aromas of green olive and vanilla cream. This firm, yet accessible, wine progresses to flavors of blackberry jam, anise, and black olives." For additional information: http://www.dunnewood.com/ Produced and Bottled by Dunnewood Vineyards, Ukiah, CA. Compare to: Geyser Peak Merlot, Sonoma County, 2000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consumed: 10/19/04 Alcohol: 13.5% ABV. Production: Fruit sourced from Sonoma County's Alexander Valley. Aged 15 months in a combination of French (60%) and American Oak Barriques, the majority of which were 1-to-4 years old. Appearance: 4/5 Deep lavender/purple. Attractive. Aroma: 17/20 Blackberries and damp earth with a faint whiff of green oak; somewhat closed. Flavor/Body: 34/40 Black raspberry, ripe strawberry, with a sweet oak vanillin and a light, smoky iodine. Finish: 8/10 Slightly phenolic finish and tannins that a just a little past chewy. Overall: 22/25 My score - 85. 4 Stars. Served with my dinner of Hungarian Gulasch. A Gold Medal winner at various competitions, including the 2003 Taster's Guild International Wine Judging Competition and the 2003 New World Competition. I'd give it a Silver. A reliable performer from a respected producer. Price and Availability: Plenty produced--about 53,000 cases. Easy to find, and priced at about $15/bottle. and: Blackstone Napa Valley Merlot, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consumed: 5/11/04 A very popular grocery store wine that didn't impress me much.... Alcohol: 14.1% ABV. Appearance: 4/5 Dark crimson; regal, rich tone from edge-to-edge. Aroma: 17/20 Warm cherry pie and mocha nose. Direct, yet inviting. Flavor/Body: 33/40 Spicy blackberry and cherry; a cup of fruit that's rendered slightly unbalanced by a bright, awkward rhubarb tone. Finish: 7/10 Slightly sour rhubarb carries through into a disappointing spicy oak, sweet-and-sour fruit finish. Lacks harmony and balance. Overall: 21/25 My score - 82. 3½ stars. Rated 85 points by Wine Spectator magazine in its September 30, 2001, issue. Silver Medal winner at the 2003 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. I'd award a Bronze. Price and Availability: Easy to find, and priced at about $11/bottle. http://www.blackstone-winery.com/  |
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