2011 Red Diamond Merlot

Name: 2011 Red Diamond Merlot
Variety: Blend, predominantly Merlot
Region: Washington State
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $8.00 (Kroger)

Winery review: “Our Washington Merlot opens with a beautifully knit blackberry, cherry and spice scented nose with a toasty oak background. Sweet fruit on the palate is complemented by medium-bodied but firm tannins.” (Red Diamond)

My review: I’ve had Merlots before and liked them well enough. I chose this one because I had never had wine from Washington State, heard the region makes good wine, and found this bottle for a good price.

I opened this bottle and let it sit open for about an hour or so. I’m looking to get a decanter but I was trying this at a friend’s house during the snowpocalypse. I poured this into a Bourdeaux glass and made sure it had warmed up enough from sitting in my backpack through the snow.

I thought this was a pretty straightforward wine. It was fairly fruity, berries and also had a good amount of spice. This was much spicier than the Malbec I bought the same time I got this one. It was tannic but was not nearly as much-so as the Malbec. The finish was very woodsy, maybe oak. I might drink this wine again but probably wouldn’t buy it.

I tasted this on its own with no food.