Markham Napa Valley Merlot 2011

Markham Napa Valley Merlot 2011

Label from '07 release.

Markham has been a fixture in our cellar for good QPR (Quality Price Ratio) every day drinking Napa red wines since we began collecting. I particularly remember their '94 vintage Cab of which we especially enjoyed a couple cases, and a couple unique '97 and '01 Petit Syrahs that we drank over a couple years.

Every day wines are an important part of the mix of a cellar collection that comprises wines for special occasions, once a week, once a month, and once in a lifetime wines, since most of us are working with the realities of a finite budget.  

Sitting on the deck over at neighbors Matt and Amy, they served Markham Napa Valley Merlot. Markham's Estate vineyards source the Merlot fruit for this blend from their Oak Knoll site (almost 70%) with the remainder from their Yountville and Calistoga vineyards. There is a blend of 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petite Sirah to add a bit of depth and structure to the 96% Merlot.
 

This provides good value at under $20 and is a great accompaniement to grilled meats, hearty cheeses and chocolate.

Dark Ruby colored, medium bodied, firm bing and black cherry fruit flavors with a slight edge, tones of smoky roasted nut, hints of anise, vanilla and a touch of cinnamon on a moderate tannin finish.

RM 87

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1603980

http://www.markhamvineyards.com/

Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Syrah 2003

Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Syrah 2003

Label from 1997 vintage.

Don't be fooled by the 'petite' in the name, this is a big wine.

Dark color - full bodied - nose of black berry and floral, flavors of forward black berry fruits, spice, smoke, with a layer of floral and dill, accented by big firm gripping tannins that linger on the long finish.

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=302653

These wines retail for $29 but are often available for less than $20. Its a good at value at those prices.

We learned from syrah/sirah specialist Carol Meredith during our visit to Lagier-Meredith Vineyards during our Mt Veeder Wine Experience 2010 that this is indeed related to the Australian Shiraz's. Perhaps it is the influence of the Napa Valley terroir or stylistic, in any event, my experiences show Napa Petite Sirahs to generally be firmer, with harder tannins and less pronounced and less lush fruits than the Aussie counterpart cousins as this wine shows.

See recent review of  Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Sirah 1997.

Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Sirah 1997

Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Sirah 1997

Picked up a lot of Markham Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Sirah during the nineties and early millennium. The 2001 and 2003 vintages of this are still holding and showing well. The '97 exhibits very dark plum purple; medium bodied, still holding on but a tone of mustiness, raisin, dill and asparagus with a rather high alcohol heat predominate over the muted black cherry fruit, overtaken by a big layer of leather turning to smokey dark chocolate mocha, anise and cedar on a firm tight hard tannin finish. Still approachable but most certainly past its prime? 

RM 84 points. 

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=23971