St. Colleen's Merlot is grown in vineyards yielding grapes of ripe fruit intensity yet softer tannins, making them very approachable in their youth. French oak aging has been the cornerstone of our twelve-month barrel program, adding subtle caramel and toasty aromas to the wine. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon were blended into the Merlot to add complexity and round out the flavor profile. This wine is versatile with many types of dishes due to its high fruit intensity, elegance, and restrained structure.

While its flavor profile is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon¹, Merlot tends to be slightly more herbaceous overall in both aroma and taste. Ripeness seems critical; both under ripe and overripe grapes lean away from fruit and towards herbaceousness. Merlot has slightly lower natural acidity than Cabernet and generally less astringency, therefore usually a more lush mouth-feel.

Since Merlot is not overly tannic, it is ideal with a variety of foods. We suggest trying our Merlot with anything from grilled lamb to baked penne pasta with red sauce. Also, if you are entertaining, St. Colleen Merlot is perfectly paired with most appetizers and is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

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Last modified: 04/10/08