Today I am tasting the 2008 La Joya Reserve Merlot by Vinas Bisquertt from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. This 100% Merlot based wine is aged in Oak for about 10 months and was purchased for under $9.
Color
In the glass it is a dark ruby red color.
Aroma
There is an earthy component which comes through. It is definitely like rock and soil. Other pleasing aromas include ripe dark fruit and a good cocoa note.
Flavor
On the attack there is some sweet black plum flavor which transitions to a mid-palate of cherry and good tannins. The finish shows a little oak and is a bit too hot from the alcohol. There is also a nice hint of sour cherry on the finish. At first I thought this was going to be over extracted and syrupy, but it isn’t and has a good body to it. It pairs well with chocolate.
Rating
This is a solid wine. Oddly, the wine label describes red fruits, but I never got any. I rate it 87 points.
If you have had this wine, did you get any red fruit flavor or aroma?