Being that October is National Merlot Month I decided to pick up a newer offering I saw at Trader Joe’s, Trader Joe’s Reserve 2014 Merlot. I witnessed a woman in the wine section saddle up her cart next to the display and put 40 bottles in her cart. Yes, 40. I figured it must be good, so I got a bottle. Merlot has gotten a bit of bad rap since the movie Sideways. I’m not Merlots biggest fan as it can be too vegetal at times for my tastes. However, Trader Joe’s Reserve 2014 Merlot strikes a delicate balance.
Trader Joe’s Reserve 2014 Merlot comes from Napa. I do not have any technical information about the wine, but I can tell it was aged in oak for a more substantial time. The label says lot #141, and I don’t know what block that might be from. The alcohol is a little higher at 14.1%. I used my Vinturi to aerate the wine and used a stemless red wine glass for tasting. When opening the bottle, I got a substantial hit of blackberry. The wine is an inky purple with a lighter plum rim.
The nose on the Trader Joe’s Reserve 2014 Merlot is moderately perfumed with a heaping helping of blackberry, plum, mocha, and oak. There is a hint of cherry and spice to round out the nose with a deep swirl. It tastes slightly off what one might expect as the plum is the forefront flavor with mocha right behind it and the blackberry and spice playing supporting roles. I should note I did serve it a little warmer than I should have, it was 65 degrees, and that might have affected the flavor slightly. The finish of the wine is long with oak, mushrooms, and dried fruit. The acid is moderate and matches nicely with foods and is fine alone as well. As the wine opened up, a hint of bell pepper became noticeable. The wine paired well with my lamb and haricot verts. The meat brought out more of the plum flavor, and the veggies brought out the spice. Towards the end of the glass, I noticed a slight herbaceous note.
The Trader Joe’s Reserve 2014 Merlot is a nice buy at $10. Many lower cost Merlots are either all veg flavor or a fruit bomb that can barely pass for real wine. This is a well put together wine that drinks easily and would match with a wide variety of dishes. I’m not sure I want 40 bottles, but I’ll certainly buy it again should it be in stock. I give this one 89 points, and a must try status if you like Merlot.
Have you tried Trader Joe’s Reserve 2014 Merlot? Let me know what you thought!