Our wine tonight is the 2012 White Merlot from Brandon Hills Vineyard in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina.
Often White Merlot is classified such as a White Zinfandel. This is unfair, as the Merlot is in my opinion a superior wine grape. White Merlot is produced by quickly removing the skins from the Merlot grape, as the skins are from where the dark ruby color is derived.
This 2012 has aged beautifully and is currently drinking well.
Color is much paler than a standard Merlot….extra light ruby but darker than your standard rosé.
Fruity nose expressive of raspberries, chocolate covered strawberries and pink grapefruit.
Semi-sweet, light tannins, and delicate in mouth feel.
Flavor notes of raspberries, cranberries, strawberries, watermelon, grapefruit, cherries, reminiscent of a fruit sorbet, finishing with light tones of cashews and pine nuts.
Winery Escapade scoring on the American Wine Society twenty point scale.
Appearance: 3 Aroma: 4.5 Taste: 4.5 Aftertaste: 3 Impression: 2
Total: 17 Silver Medal worthy!
12.5% ABV
Priced at $15 a bottle.
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