Raymond Reserve Selection Napa Valley Merlot has a long history of accolades and 90+ ratings from major wine magazines. My local Costco has had the 2012 vintage reduced $5 from it's regular $21 price, so I had to give it a try.
Maybe there was a problem with my bottle, but the wine did not live up to its history. I noticed that the alcohol content was 14.5%, which is higher than the Merlots I usually drink and the aroma from the glass had a distinct alcohol nose. The taste was hot with the alcohol overpowering the fruit. I tried the glass again in an hour, then again the next day and finally finished the bottle on the third day. Each time, the result was the same.
I decided to check the winery website but the Reserve Series Merlot shown is still the 2011 even though they show 2012 on their other red wines. I did note that the 2011 Reserve Series Merlot had an alcohol content of 13.5%, a full point less than the 2012.
I would be interested to hear if anyone else has tried the 2012 Reserve Series Merlot.
SC Wine Joe rating = 87 points.
Maybe there was a problem with my bottle, but the wine did not live up to its history. I noticed that the alcohol content was 14.5%, which is higher than the Merlots I usually drink and the aroma from the glass had a distinct alcohol nose. The taste was hot with the alcohol overpowering the fruit. I tried the glass again in an hour, then again the next day and finally finished the bottle on the third day. Each time, the result was the same.
I decided to check the winery website but the Reserve Series Merlot shown is still the 2011 even though they show 2012 on their other red wines. I did note that the 2011 Reserve Series Merlot had an alcohol content of 13.5%, a full point less than the 2012.
I would be interested to hear if anyone else has tried the 2012 Reserve Series Merlot.
SC Wine Joe rating = 87 points.
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