2019 Noble Ridge Noble Knights Macintosh Vintage Merlot
Noble Ridge is a winery that I recommend often for many reasons. They have one of the best views of Okanagan Falls which makes the picnic area top-notch, and their portfolio ranges from crowd-pleasers to bold, cellar-worthy wines. I’m a frequent visitor at this winery so keep an eye out for future posts featuring Noble Ridge.
As I mentioned in a previous post, Merlot is the most planted red varietal, and it grows very well in BC. I love Okanagan Merlot and this bottle is a great example.
The grapes for this old-world style of Merlot were sourced from a south facing vineyard planted 2013 in Oliver.
De-stemmed and crushed, then cold soaked for three days before a cool fermentation in stainless steel. This wine was barrel aged in 90% French, 5% American and 5% Armenian barrels for 12 months (25% new oak was used).
Great finesse, elegance and structure reminiscent of Bordeaux. The nose opens with generous notes of sun baked plum, opulent dark cherries, and a touch of cedar. Medium body and dry, followed through on the palate by a delicious hint of mocha and baking spices. Fresh acidity and supple tannins bringing proper, balanced structure. Silky mouthfeel, great concentration and a lovely lingering finish. On day two, it held up spectacularly and developed a pronounced toffee and violet note.
Very enjoyable Merlot and will be purchasing more while it’s in stock. Highly recommend Noble Ridge wines.
$38.99 retail. 287 cases made.
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