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What We Say 2005 Russian River Merlot
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Mission Codename: Old World Passion
Operative: Agent Zin
Objective: Seek Out A California Wine Made With Old World Passion.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Trecini Cellars
Wine Subject: 2005 Russian River Merlot
Winemaker: Dan Barwick
Backgrounder: Trecini Cellars, in Sonoma California, has a rich family history of winemaking. Their 2005 Russian River Merlot shows all the qualities of this winemaking tradition.
Merlot, known for its richness is one of the primary grapes of the wines of Bordeaux. In California, it makes for a great varietal wine. Characteristic luscious fruit and velvet smoothness make Merlot wines among the most drinkable and popular wines in the United States.
Don’t listen to what others may tell you, Merlot wines can be as seductive as any Pinot Noir – and this wine in particular is an exceptional representative of the varietal as evidenced by its many awards and accolades.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Slightly inky, medium-dark ruby with thick muscular legs when swirled.
Smell – Sweet strawberries and dark cherries followed by a subtle vegetal character.
Feel – Smooth and thick, this wine completely fills your mouth.
Taste – Nice fruit with cherries and plums that are not overpowering. This wine has a balanced earthy quality with a complex mix of fresh cut grass, herbs and charcoal.
Finish – Tart fruit nicely rounded by its more earthy and vegetal qualities. Has a long-lingering finish and mild smooth tannins.
Conclusion – The fruitiness of this wine is pleasantly understated and the earth tones add complexity making it versatile for matching with many kinds of recipes. In all, this is a great Russian River Merlot for a great price! This wine has a lot of accolades and awards and it clearly deserves every one of them.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Vicini Vinyard can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Trecini Cellars
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Trecini Cellars.
By the way, on Double Agent Days, we feature two or more wines. Today, be sure to visit us this afternoon (1:00 PM PST) for an over-the-top selection from Italy.
Awards and Accolades:
A DOUBLE GOLD WINNER FROM THE GOLD MEDAL WINNING VICINI VINEYARD
Best of Class – 2007 Cal State Fair
Best of California – 2007 Cal State Fair
Double Gold Medal 98 Points – 2007 Cal State Fair
Double Gold – 2007 North Of The Bay Competition
Best of Class – 2007 North Of The Gate Competition
Double Gold Medal – Indy International State Fair
Gold Medal – Wine Fest 2007
Gold Medal – SC State Fair 2007.
About This Wine:
The color of the wine is a deep red almost opaque. Your nose will experience black cherries, plums, dried cherries, charcoal, toast, dried herbs, minerals, all setting into a varietal correct smell. The palate has a broad entry followed by a full-middle based feeling on the tongue. The wine is balanced and has good structure. Lots of minerals, dustiness, dried fruits, pomegranate, roasted nuttiness, jolly ranchers, and sweet fruits add to a long tasty finish.
The Wine Maker:
In 1981, Dan Barwick, a native of England, took his first wine job in the wine department of Harrods in London. “That’s where a wine germ settled and stayed in my head until I was ready to discover more,” says Barwick.
After a short stint in wholesale wine sales, Barwick hop scotched around the wine world for nine years, first a Matanzas Creek Winery in Sonoma’s Bennett Valley, then Ferrari-Carano, over a Burgundy and then Stellenbosch and the Barossa Valley, before coming back to Sonoma County and Martin Ray Winery, and finally Paradise Ridge where he started working with Trecini Cellars. Since 1999, Dan has made seven consecutive vintages of Trecini Cellars and looks forward to introducing new, creative, and extremely flavorful wines.
About The Winery
From the historical town of Jera, in Tuscany, Italy, John Vicini brought with him the passion and love of wine that were handed from one generation to another for over 150 years. Now living and working with Cathy, his wife, and David, their son, they bring to you exceptional wines from the gently rolling vineyard covered hills of Sonoma County, the Russian River, and the Dry Creek Valley. Starting in 1994, John and Cathy grew and sold their own premium Russian River grapes. In 1999 they expanded their family’s business to developing and introduction their own label Trecini, representing the three Vicinis (John, Cathy, and David). With the help of David, Trecini has grown from a premium grape grower to a premium wine company offering five award winning varietals, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Merlot, Merlot Rosé, and a Zinfandel.
