Lava Cap 2003 Reserve Merlot
Tasting Notes
Rich and smooth, this gold winning Merlot is our best to date! This full-bodied, elegant wine has beautiful notes of rich cherry, chocolate and berry flavors. These flavors are complemented by a rich texture and a solid backbone of soft tannins, acid, and French oak. Enjoy with pork chops, turkey, and pasta.
| Composition | 100% Merlot, Lava Cap Vineyards |
| Appellation | El Dorado County |
| Harvested | September 22, 2003 |
| Alcohol | 15.1%% |
| Aged in | French oak |
| Bottled | August 17, 2005 |
| Production | 2800 cases |
| Awards | GOLD MEDAL Critics Challenge Competition GOLD MEDAL Pacific Rim Int'l Competition GOLD MEDAL Int'l Eastern Wine Competition SILVER MEDAL San Francisco Int'l Wine Competition SILVER MEDAL Finger Lakes Int'l Competition BRONZE MEDAL San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition |
Member Reviews
winebratsf
Sep 8, 2008, 1:46 PM
I love this merlot! As a traditionally NON merlot drinker (even before Sideways), I found this wine exceptionally smooth and velvety with a lot of spicy berries covered in good chocolate powder.
It was a very subtle merlot, which I like. It was most pleasantly received by my party guests!
A really fun, fruity Merlot
Sonadora
Mar 27, 2008, 7:20 PM
On the nose I found berries, plums, spices, dark fruit, currants, and chocolate. In the mouth, more berries, currants, and plums. The wine was fruity with a bit of a darker earthy undertone, and still had a bit of a tannic edge.
I thought this was a really fun, fruity Merlot, and another great effort from Lava Cap. For this price, I would definitely get this again and consider it as a staple for serving with pizza or tomato based pasta dishes.
Read my full review in my blog post, Blogging From the Road
I thought this was a really fun, fruity Merlot, and another great effort from Lava Cap. For this price, I would definitely get this again and consider it as a staple for serving with pizza or tomato based pasta dishes.
Read my full review in my blog post, Blogging From the Road
hondo
Jan 29, 2008, 8:38 PM
I found this Merlot to be thin and un-interesting. A bit of chocolate covered cherry tasting, but the high alcohol content left me with nothing but heat on the finish. I served it with a roast beef and it did not hold up well at all. Disappointing.
Fantastic red with hints of cherries and plums
jseifer
Aug 7, 2007, 5:06 PM
Great fruity red with a big flavor. Cherries and plums are definitely present without overpowering. This wine will go great with steak or pork chops. It's a must buy if you enjoy a red with a big flavor.
Let me preface this review by saying I really like ...
brittanydean
Jul 29, 2007, 12:50 AM
Let me preface this review by saying I really like Merlot! This one from Lava Cap is actually not as soft as a lot I've had - the flavors are pretty concentrated, especially at the tip of the tongue. I wouldn't describe it as chewy, but it was definitely more dense than I expected.
There was a light, pretty garnet color in the glass, with soft aromas of berries and spicy oak. I found flavors of cherries, raspberries and oak on the palate, with maybe a faint touch of cocoa powder and a dusty finish.
Though it did have medium tannins and pleasant fruit flavors, I didn't find this one to be quite as much of a velvety fruit bomb as many California Merlots (which I don't necessarily mind!), but I did enjoy it.
There was a light, pretty garnet color in the glass, with soft aromas of berries and spicy oak. I found flavors of cherries, raspberries and oak on the palate, with maybe a faint touch of cocoa powder and a dusty finish.
Though it did have medium tannins and pleasant fruit flavors, I didn't find this one to be quite as much of a velvety fruit bomb as many California Merlots (which I don't necessarily mind!), but I did enjoy it.
admcconnachie
May 23, 2007, 12:41 AM
A typical California Merlot, with medium tannins and acidity. Good with pizza and pasta dishes. Has a nice lingering aftertaste.
