Today I am tasting the 2006 Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet by Columbia Crest from Washington. This bottle was purchased for under $7. It is a Bordeaux style blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged for 10-11 months in oak. I’ve been a fan of wines from the northwest in the past, so it will be interesting to taste this wine.
Color
In the glass it is a dark ruby red. A tiny bit thinner than I would have expected given the blend.
Aroma
On the nose there is a good amount of blackberry showing. I also detect some of the oak along with black currant and a hint of bell pepper. Overall it is a decent nose.
Flavor
On the attack there is quite a bit of sweet fruit. It is a mix of raspberry and strawberry and gets a bit syrupy. The mid-palate exhibits more cherry components and the finish has red currant and black pepper notes. I also get a hint of vanilla throughout which is probably the oak showing. The finish has some decent acid which will help this wine pair well with food. Try it with Italian dishes.
Rating
For the price this wine offers reasonable value. I find it too sweet for my palate and I rate it 82 points. However, I would like to give credit to Columbia Crest for using this blend of grape varieties. I am sure some of their higher end wines with this blend are quite good. Have you tried this wine or a better offering from Columbia Crest?
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