January 2007 Wine Tasting Notes:
2003 Ventana Vineyards Merlot, Monterey, Arroyo Seco.
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This wine is a deep garnet in color. The nose offers abundant blackberry and cherry with hints of bay leaf. Blackberry and currant continues on the palate backed by light, short-lived salty minerality. A alight mocha note follows. A medium body with slightly chewy tannins, balanced acidity make for a smooth mouth feel. A medium finish is an interplay of cherry, currant and blackberry. |
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RWB Score: 89 breakdown 13.5% Alcohol $18.00 Retail (from winery); Total production unknown. |
Youthful but juicy with a distinct, but light-handed mark of the terroir of the Ventana estate. In a year of sketchy Merlots, the 2003 Venatna Merlot offers a medium body and good fruit extraction and varietal identity. Expected to make a versatile food pairing versatility over five more years. |
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More Ventana reviews. More on Arroyo Seco AVA |
Estate grown and bottled, this wine is aged in a blend of French and American oak.
Merlot has a flavor profile similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but displays less distinctive and slightly more herbaceous aromas and flavors. Because of its lower tannins and more forward fruit, it is more approachable than Cabernet Sauvignon. Although it is beloved by many for its approachability and is a dominant part of California and Bordeaux red wines, Merlot is fickle about its weather: it requires a moderate and dry growing region and climate to be at its best. Merlot shows more of the green and herbaceous characteristics when either under- or over- ripe.
The 2003 year was marked by climatic challenges that kept growers and vineyard managers on their toes. Reported early bud break, rain during fruit set and August heat were part of the 2003 roller coaster but at harvest time, temperatures became moderate. Despite the ups and downs, the resulting crop was one of particularly dense and flavorful fruit.
Ventana ("window" in Spanish) was founded by Doug Meador in the early 1970s. A former Navy pilot from a family of Washington apple farmers, he became fascinated with cold-climate viticulture while supervising the planting of 2,500 acres of grapes in the Arroyo Seco area of Monterey County. He purchased and planted the current 400 acre property. He became a pioneer and champion of Monterey wine. In September 2006, The Meadors sold the Ventana brand, vineyards, winery and tasting room to a group of local winemakers and grape growers who make up Ventana Vintners, LLC. Doug is still involved with and present at Ventana (which continues his legacy) but is concentrating on his namesake label: Meador as well as other projects.
Ventana Vineyard’s lead winemaker is Reggie Hammond (he retains that position after the recent transfer of ownership). He was brought in by Doug Meador to manage the vineyards, winery operations and to develop Ventana's red wine portfolio while continuing the line up of white wines at the standard of quality Dough had established. He applies a "keep it simple and don't screw it up" approach to achieve the Ventana winemaking philosophy. Ventana aims to craft "European sensibility and an abundance of California fruit" at a good value. This means affordable wines with distinct varietal characteristics. The frame of mind is to be "wine-growers" not grape growers.
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5 points |
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Nose |
3 points |
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Palate |
3 points |
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Finish |
3 points |
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Tannins |
5 points |
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Acidity |
5 points |
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Alcohol |
5 points |
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Aging potential |
2 points |
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Overall quality |
8 points |
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