Thursday, April 20, 2017

Rombauer Carneros Merlot 2010

Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Merlot 2010

We tasted, enjoyed and acquired the then current 2012 release of this Rombauer Carneros Merlot at a winemaker dinner at Adelle's Restaurant in Wheaton just about a year ago, so I was delighted to see the 2010 vintage on closeout at the local wineshop last week. I picked it up to enjoy with beef tenderloin dinner back at the hotel and then at home the following evening.

The fruit for this label is sourced from Rombauer and contract grower vineyards in the Carneros region, down south and west of Napa where the San Pablo Bay meets the southern end of Napa and Sonoma valleys. Perhaps it is the slightly cooler and milder climate there that contributes to the rich concentrated fruit of this wine. 

With its bright full forward concentrated bramble black berry and black cherry fruits, this tasted more like a Zinfandel than a Merlot, with tones of sweet vanilla, cedar, oak, leather and tobacco leaf. It begs for bbq, sharp cheese or bitter dark chocolate.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/notes.asp?iWine=1736805

http://www.rombauer.com/