Valley Oak Cooperage

Varietal: Merlot
Region: Paso Robles, California
MSRP: $25.00
ABV: 14%

Don’t mention the movie ‘Sideways’ to the folks at Valley Oak Cooperage. Founded by winemakers with a singular passion for the grape, the winery has dedicated itself to perfecting the art of making fantastic Merlots. And if you bring up ‘Sideways’, with its famous scene attacking Merlot, practically every employee rolls their eyes and says the same seven words, “Hate the wine, don’t hate the grape.”

If you aren’t already, this wine will make you an evangelist for Merlot. Using 100% Paso Robles fruit this wine was aged for over 2 years in artisanal oak barrels giving it intensely powerful aromatics of spicy oak and ripe plums. Made only in small batches, the winemakers at Valley Oak Cooperage labored, with great patience, over each and every bottle of this wine. We’re lucky to have it in the club and we know that once you try it, you’re going to want another bottle (or 6!).

And the judges agree: this wine won a gold medal and 93-point score at the 2017 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition!

REGION
There’s a reason Paso Robles is the fastest growing wine region in California. Encompassing over 614,000 acres of land, with 32,000 acres of grapevines, the area’s verdant soils, warm days, and cool nights make it one of the best regions in the world for growing bold, nutrient dense grapes. Filled with some of the boldest, most innovative winemakers working today, the region is known for producing distinctively flavorful and incredibly drinkable wines.

TASTING NOTES:

This is a Merlot like none other. incredibly easy to drink this is the perfect wine to share with friends and open at meals. Spicy oak and abundant fleshy dark fruits such as raspberry and ripe cherry define this wine balanced by perfect acidity. The result is a bold and flavorful and awesome with almost any food: beef, chicken, vegetables—this wine just made everything taste better.