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Mission Codename: Ergo… Merlot!

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Find a Merlot to dispel the critics of Merlot

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: O’Brien Estate Winery

Wine Subject: 2006 Napa Valley Merlot

Winemaker: David Yorgensen

Backgrounder:

The fruit for this wine come from Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District. Oak Knoll is located on the southern end of the valley and formally became a sub-appellation in 2004. With approximately 4000 acres under vine it is most influenced from a climate perspective by the cool breezes of the San Pablo Bay. Only Carneros (further south) is considered cooler. Being at the lower end of the valley it is lower in elevation and the soil is made up of fertile clay and silt loam.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep and dark purple and a dark almost inky core with garnet highlights that extend through to the edges. When swirled, the slow fat legs show hints of this wine’s deep color as they sink down the edge of the glass.

Smell – Bold but not overpowering, the mix of black-fruit, jam, licorice and fresh-cut oak are layered over complex aromas of earth and exotic spices. Hints of floral violets and dried herbs are also present on the still youthful nose.

Feel – This wine is dry with a firm attack. The fine grained tannins linger through to the back of the palate and a touch of spice hits on both the tip of the tongue and the back of the palate. Balanced acidity is framed by a touch of minerality. Given some time, this wine opens considerably.

Taste -An array of tart black-fruit including black-cherry, black-berry and plum over complex notes of exotic spice and white pepper. New oak, licorice and hints of mocha coffee emerge as the wine opens.

Finish – Medium-long in length with lingering flavors of black-cherry and plum backed up by its earthiness, herbal notes, and hints of this wine’s spice and oak components.

Conclusion – The 2006 O’Brien Estate Winery Napa Valley Merlot is the kind of Merlot that will reminds you why this varietal is the grape of the right bank of Bordeaux. Big and bold, dense and expressive with aromas, flavors and a structure stands up. This is not your forgettable sub-par style of Merlot that unfortunately has tainted its reputation. On the contrary, if you’re a fan a Napa fruit, this wine will renew your love affair with this most noble of grapes.

Mission Report:

Below is a recap of Agent Red and Agent Sparkle’s original encounter with O’Brien Estate Winery:

The life of a wine spy can be a lonely and isolated affair. Field reconnaissance or undercover missions can keep me away from loved ones for days or even weeks at a time. Don’t get me wrong, I love my work. It is incredibly rewarding to sleuth great wines for our Operatives.

Waaaaaaa!, right? Poor Wine Spy, poor International man of wine-intrigue. Okay, I admit it. I sometimes wallow in self pity. Don’t we all get a little blue sometimes?

On a particularly grueling mission recently, I found myself staked out – in the rain – waiting for a local asset to stash a wine in our previously-arranged dead drop. He was late, I was wet and I had not been on a date with Agent Sparkle for what seemed like an eternity.

More rain. More waiting… and then a solitary figure appeared at the edge of the city park. The figure headed for the bench, my dead drop, but the passed right by it. Something was definitely wrong. This person was decidedly more lithe than my bulky field asset.

I crouched lower into the ditch, in the process filling my rubber boots with water. The figure was coming directly toward me now. I crouched lower and, in doing so, slipped in the mud – getting a mouth full of muddy water in the process.

Fearing that I had been spotted, I held perfectly still, listening intently. A loud click-click sound rang out from above me. I braced for the worst… and then realized that the rain has stopped beating down on me.

The sound of soft laughter followed, as did a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s me, silly!”

Agent Sparkle!

I asked her, “What are you doing here?” Her smile, warmed me, making me forget my miserable situation.

“I hope that you don’t mind, but I hacked into your mission logs and found out that you would be here. I headed off your asset and got the bottle from him. let’s go find somewhere warm and cozy to open this baby up!”

With that, my spirits were elevated. Within a few minutes we were at our nearest safehouse, fireplace blazing, wine decanted, soft music playing in the background.

For the balance of the evening we thoroughly enjoyed Bart O’Brien’s exquisite 2005 Seduction while chatting, laughing and [REDACTED].

If you are looking to lift the spirits of someone you love, or want the perfect wine for your romantic encounters, this wine is highly recommended!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the O’Brien Estate Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.