Full Review

Wakefield

Wakefield
2021 Estate, Merlot, Clare Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: Australia
Alcohol: 14.5%
89 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$18

Wakefield
2021 Estate, Merlot, Clare Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Merlot

Date Tasted:
Country: Australia
Alcohol: 14.5%
Ruby black color. Aromas and flavors of over ripe blackberry, tart pomegranate and cranberry, and bergamot tea with a medium-to-full body and a medium-to-long finish that presents nuances of tart pomegranate and cranberry, leather and herbs, and plum. A dark, rich and brooding Merlot with well balanced herbal, fruit and oak aromas that carry over to the palate.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: over ripe blackberry, tart pomegranate and cranberry, and bergamot tea
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with nuances of tart pomegranate and cranberry, leather and herbs, and plum
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A dark, rich and brooding Merlot with well balanced herbal, fruit and oak aromas that carry over to the palate.

The Producer or Importer

Brown-Forman Beverages

The Producer or  Importer
P O Box 1080 / 850 Dixie Hwy.
Louisville, KY 40210
USA
1 502-585-1100

Their Portfolio

85 Herradura Ultra Anejo Tequila Cristalino 40% (Mexico) $59.00.
89 Wakefield 2021 Estate, Merlot, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $18.00.
93 Wakefield 2022 Estate, Riesling, Adelaide Hills 12% (Australia) $18.00.
93 Wakefield 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Padthaway 13.5% (Australia) $18.00.
92 Wakefield 2020 Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $18.00.
89 Wakefield 2020 Estate, Shiraz, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $18.00.
88 Wakefield 2020 Promised Land, Shiraz, South Australia 14% (Australia) $13.00.
89 Wakefield 2021 Promised Land, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 14% (Australia) $13.00.
95 Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia 13.5% (Australia) $13.00.
92 Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Pinot Grigio, South Australia 13% (Australia) $13.00.
94 Wakefield 2023 Estate, Pinot Gris, South Australia 13% (Australia) $18.00.
89 Wakefield 2023 Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills 12.5% (Australia) $18.00.
93 Wakefield 2022 Estate, Chardonnay, South Australia 13.5% (Australia) $18.00.
93 Wakefield 2021 Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 14.5% (Australia) $18.00.
88 Wakefield 2021 Estate, Shiraz, South Australia 14.5% (Australia) $18.00.
92 Wakefield 2021 Jaraman, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 14.5% (Australia) $22.00.
94 Wakefield 2022 Jaraman, Pinot Noir, Tasmania 13.5% (Australia) $22.00.
93 Wakefield 2021 Jaraman, Shiraz, South Australia 14.5% (Australia) $22.00.
93 Wakefield 2020 St Andrews, Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $50.00.
94 Wakefield 2020 St Andrews, Shiraz, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $50.00.
93 Wakefield 2022 St Andrews, Chardonnay, Clare Valley 12.5% (Australia) $32.00.
92 Wakefield 2023 St Andrews, Riesling, Clare Valley 12% (Australia) $32.00.
95 Wakefield 2019 The Pioneer, Shiraz, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $140.00.
93 Wakefield 2019 The Visionary, Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $140.00.
93 Wakefield 2022 Jaraman, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra 14.5% (Australia) $22.00.
91 Wakefield 2022 Jaraman, Shiraz, McLaren Vale 14.5% (Australia) $22.00.
92 Wakefield 2023 Jaraman, Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills 13% (Australia) $22.00.
93 Wakefield 2023 Jaraman, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills 12.5% (Australia) $22.00.
93 Wakefield 2021 St Andrews, Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $50.00.
94 Wakefield 2021 St Andrews, Shiraz, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $50.00.
88 Wakefield 2024 St Andrews, Riesling, Clare Valley 11.5% (Australia) $32.00.
88 Wakefield 2022 Estate Label, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 14.5% (Australia) $18.00.
91 Wakefield 2022 Estate Label, Shiraz, Clare Valley 14.5% (Australia) $18.00.

Merlot

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Merlot is a red variety that is loved by consumers, yet often shunned by certain wine gurus and critics, as they perceive these wines as “little sisters” to the more powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Yet on its own, the best examples of Merlot are multi-layered, complex wines that are among the finest in the world.

Merlot has many similar flavors to Cabernet Sauvignon, especially with its cherry and plum fruit, but is has fewer, less sharp tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon. Many producers whether in Bordeaux, America, Chile or elsewhere, often blend small percentages of Merlot into Cabernet Sauvignon to lessen the tannic bitterness of the latter.

A few districts in France’s Bordeaux region, namely Pomerol, are home to the greatest examples of Merlot. Chateau Petrus is the world’s most famous example of Merlot, a powerful wine that ages beautifully for 30 or 40 years in the best vintages. There are also celebrated examples from American, especially in Washington’s Walla Walla valley as well as in Napa Valley in California. Merlot is also very successful in Chile, New Zealand and even in certain part of Italy.

Merlot pairs best with foods such as lamb or veal, but it also sought out by consumers to accompany steaks and roast when they want a rounder, more elegant red wine.

Top Rated for
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Jarvis 2018 Merlot, Napa Valley
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Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA
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Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA
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Provenance Vineyards 2019 Merlot, Napa Valley
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Bright Leaf Vineyard 2018 Estate Bottled, Merlot, Finger Lakes
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Best Buys for
Merlot

Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA
95 POINTS
Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA
13.5% $10.00.
Canada
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2018 Estate Bottled, Merlot, Finger Lakes
94 POINTS
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13.1% $18.00.
USA
Chloe 2019 Merlot, Monterey County
94 POINTS
Chloe 2019 Merlot, Monterey County
14.5% $17.00.
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Taylors 2022 Estate Label, Merlot, Clare Valley
93 POINTS
Taylors 2022 Estate Label, Merlot, Clare Valley
14% $18.00.
Australia
Charles Smith 2020 The Velvet Devil, Merlot, Washington
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13.5% $14.00.
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Taylors 2022 Promised Land, Merlot, South Australia
93 POINTS
Taylors 2022 Promised Land, Merlot, South Australia
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Cannonball 2020 Merlot, California
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Cloud Watcher 2020 Merlot, California
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Cloud Watcher 2020 Merlot, California
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Sunscape NV Merlot, California
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