Whom You Know: Champagne Wishes: Emma Pearl 2009 Merlot Recommended by Whom You Know

Monday, August 8, 2011

Champagne Wishes: Emma Pearl 2009 Merlot Recommended by Whom You Know

Even before I sipped the Emma Pearl Merlot, I could tell I would love it. The aroma of dark cherries was so apparent I was so excited. I love cherries. I could also taste a hint of raspberry, which I loved. The spices that were mixed with the fruit that gave this wine a very smooth taste to it. I loved the pomegranate finish this wine had. Other Merlots I've tried haven't had a finish quite like this one. They have always turned me off because of it, but not this one. I paired this wine with several different meals, but I think my favorite was with a hamburger on the grill. I think that because we were outside grilling is what made it so good. I also tried it with a strawberry chicken salad and chicken parmigiana. I will absolutely buy this wine again. I can't wait for my next cookout to have more.

Merlot has always been my favorite type of wine. I love it for its medium body and its delicious fruit notes such as plums and cherries. Emma Pearl's 2009 Merlot reconfirmed my love for this wine! The Merlot is grown in San Luis Obispo County in the Paso Robles area. It is made from Merlot grapes in the region with some Carignan and Syrah blended in. It is a deep ruby red color and has a lovely aroma of cherry and raspberry! I paired the wine with a grilled chicken salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I thought the wine paired very well, but also felt it would also be wonderful on its own! This wine is one that I would not hesitate to serve at a dinner party. It is very easy and soothing to drink! I'm truly excited to continue enjoying wines from Emma Pearl!

I love Merlot and the Emma Pearl Merlot 2009 just moved to the top of my list! With vineyards located in the Paso Robles region of the Central Coast of California, the vineyards thrive in the sunshine and cool coastal breezes. This merlot benefited from near-perfect weather conditions (near-perfect for vineyards, that is). Winter months with below average rainfall and a cool spring and summer contributed to this extremely well-balanced masterpiece. With winemaker Nova Cadamatre overseeing, the wine was fermented on skins. This process helps to retain the deep red color. It was then oaked to bring out the fruity flavors and was bottled young to highlight the fruitiness of the wine. I enjoyed this merlot on its own, not pairing it with anything for my first tasting. What a wonderfully, fruity merlot! As I continued to enjoy my first glass (notice I said first...yes, there was a second!), I detected a subtle spiciness following the initial fruitiness. The Emma Pearl Merlot 2009 is divine! It is light, lovely and fruity, but has undertones of a light spiciness that keeps it from being overly fruity. If you are searching for the perfect summer red, your search can end with the Emma Pearl Merlot 2009!

I love red wine anytime, but somehow I always seem to enjoy it most when it's raining outside. There's a special kind of comfort that can be gleaned from a good red wine, and in the midst of a rainstorm, with some jazz music playing in the background, it can be the perfect respite from a hectic life. Such was the scene when I first tried the Emma Pearl 2009 Merlot. As I swirled the wine around in my glass and the aromas started to waft toward my nose, I felt more relaxed than I had in weeks. Scents of juicy berries and dark cherries rose upward, with just a hint of spice lurking beneath. As soon as I inhaled the aromas, I felt transported to a different world, far away from the chaotic streets of the city. I swirled and sniffed, swirled and sniff, and finally went ahead and took that magical first sip. The palate maintained the fruitiness and added more complexity, with hints of vanilla and spice sneaking in. The finish was smooth, lingering, and elegant. That the wine is so enjoyable is made all the more impressive by the fact that it's part of the inaugural offering from the boutique collection of Emma Pearl. If this intense and enjoyable vintage is any indication, we have great things to expect from the talentedfolks at Emma Pearl in years to come. Highly recommended by this vino-loving panelist!

Merlot can be served "frais", as the French say. Chill a young merlot to enjoy and savor the fruity parfum. As an alternative to a rose in the summertime, Emma Pearl's Merlot affords an appropriate note on the palate on a warm summer's day. One wonderful way to experiment with the proper chilling of a merlot is a great basis for a party. Everyone has their own idea about the appropriate temperature for a merlot. Here, Emma Pearl will not disappoint. Chill a bottle, or several, of this friendly wine, to approximately 65 degrees, at least half-an-hour before serving. The tasting can begin, as soon as you open the bottle. Chilled merlot, when young, yields it's freshness without losing it's bouquet. Enjoy the balance, and the marvelous fruity notes in your first taste. Sense the rasberries, the cherries. Allow the temperature to change, and try the second taste when the wine has breathed a bit, and the chill is subdued. The California Coast where this wine is born, gives a smooth balance to this 2009. We think the winemaker, Nova Cadamatre, with her years of experience, has made her magic with this Merlot. Let your final test be when the wine has reached room temperature, and your comparisons have had room to grow. The fruity nose has subsided a bit, to reveal the tannins, and a sense of spice, with a finish as smooth as velvet. Bring several bottles to your next party, as the packaging is perfect for gifting. Try this wine with salad, with your grilling adventures. An alternative to the actual chilling of the wine, is the chilling of the glass. Some noses prefer this, rather than chilling the wine. But we found our way to be the perfect way to enjoy the Emma Pearl Merlot. website: www.emmapearlwine.com

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2009 Merlot

The Region: California’s Central Coast coaxes fruit to life with abundant sunshine and cool coastal breezes. The vineyards for our Merlot are located in Paso Robles, a superlative sub-region for Bordeaux varieties. Located in the heart of the Central Coast, our Merlot thrives in the well-drained soils of Paso Robles.

The 2009 Vintage: The 2009 vintage produced wines of excellent quality. The winter months saw below average rainfall, followed by a cool spring and summer, which led to slow maturing fruit. Optimal ripening conditions and gentle heat spikes in September resulted in full flavor development to complement the natural acidity in the grapes. Moderate temperatures leading into harvest resulted in exceptionally balanced wines.

Winemaking Notes: This wine was fermented on skins to retain beautiful ruby color and treated carefully to maintain smooth style. The wine was lightly oaked to highlight the fruit and add complexity to the flavors. It has been bottled young to accentuate the fresh, fruity style.

Tasting Notes: Fresh, juicy cherries and ripe, sun-kissed raspberries grown on California’s Central Coast come to mind when swirling this wine in the glass for the first time. The open, fruity nose is only the introduction that reveals light notes of exotic spices and soft silky tannins on the palate. The finish is velvety smooth with lingering notes of pomegranates and cherries.

Food Pairings: Easily paired with a strawberry vinaigrette salad or with roasted lamb with red plum sauce.

Varietal Composition: 88% Merlot, 8% Carignan, 4% Syrah

AVA: Central Coast, CA

Vineyards: Selected Central Coast Vineyards

Release Date: February 2011

Cases Produced: 9,000

Alcohol: 14.5% by vol.

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