Tasting- "Merlot"

 

Name of the wine: Merlot Beliveau Wine

Variety of the grape(s) in the wine: Merlot

Country of origin: United States

Region of origin: Southern Virginia

Vintage year: 2019

Price: $24.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review of the wine: This wine was overall rated well by the reviews that I was able to find on it. There were not very many reviews though. The people who reviewed it said that it had a slight plum taste and was smoky. Additionally, they mentioned its light body. I personally thought that it had a big body.

https://www.vivino.com/AU/en/beliveau-trailblazer-merlot/w/5250077 

References of specific flavors, aromas, and grape varietal characteristics taken directly from the Wine Folly text, with page numbers referenced: The Wine Folly book mentions how Merlot is known for its strong black cherry flavors (pg 131). It also mentions how it has a big body with little sweetness, which I noticed about the Merlot I tried (pg 131). I found it interesting because the book mentions how Merlot is mainly grown in California and Washington when it is grown in the United States, but this Merlot was from Virginia. 

Your review: I really liked this wine. I thought that it smelled a little bit woody, most likely because it was aged in Oak barrels for a year. The wine had a strong/bold taste and was slightly spicy. It was also smooth tasting and had a big body. Despite the strong taste, it also left me with a lighter feeling and it did feel heavy. Overall, I would buy this wine and thought it was really good.

I did not drink this wine with food.