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Merlot 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1997 | 1996 |
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Merlot 2004 “…has upfront black cherry fruit with a smooth finish.”
“As easygoing and uncomplicated as a Saturday morning. Displays soft plum and cherry flavors with a hint of pepper and licorice; soft finish. Sausage and peppers sandwich. Buy and serve youngest vintage available. Excellent by-the-glass choice.”
"A Chilean wine with a lovely fruit base for serving with mildly seasoned meat dishes. The aroma has plums and a trace of pepper, and the mid-palate has nice fruit. Serve slightly chilled." Wine of the Week
"Supple, full bodied, and distinctly flavored (black currant, plum, herbs), this is an exceptional Merlot at the price. It has moderate richness and medium length. Unusually smooth for the wine’s type and age. (2004-2005) Anticipated peak drinkability, not aging potential." * * * * +
"Bordeaux lovers on a budget: this one's for you. True, Walnut Crest Merlot is produced half a world away from France in Chile's Rapel Valley. However, it is surprisingly complex for a wine in this price range, with pleasant notes of cassis and plum. And this charmingly fruity wine finishes thoroughly dry. Paradoxically, I find this and many other inexpensive Chilean Cabernets and Merlots more palatable than that country's increasingly pricey showcase wines, many of which tend to be excessively herbaceous and "green" on the nose. These inexpensive wines are proof that the paramount objective for Chilean winemaking today is to extract more intense, ripe, red-fruit flavors without simultaneously extracting more of the excessively minty, eucalyptus notes, which Chile's vineyards tend to provide all too abundantly. Note: The 2003 Walnut Crest Merlot is just coming into the market, but the similarly styled 2002 is of equal quality."
"Often noted as the best value in Merlot by Wine Spectator and (other publications), this wine is cheap. At less than $5 a bottle you can’t lose. Made in the Rapel Valley of Chile, this Merlot has a few notes of dark cherry fruit, but with the mellow tannins, it goes down easy."
"Chile occasionally scores with merlot, too, and this one is popular. It's simple and a bit grapey, but you could do worse. There's some charm in the blackberry, smoke, licorice and mint notes and slightly tarry, bitter finish that reins in the sweet fruit."
"Medium bodied with ripe berry, toasty oak and grapefruit; peppery finish. Hamburger, pork chops. Fully mature. Serve now."
“A soft red with cherry and eucalyptus scents, this gentle, fruity wine is ready for pork chops off the grill." A 100 Best Value
"A soft red with cherry and eucalyptus scents, this gentle, fruity wine is ready for pork chops off the grill." GOOD VALUE
"A youthful, fruity, medium-full bodied wine that has won many 'best buy' awards for its flavour and smooth, rich silkiness. It's well-balanced and has the unmistakable bouquet of eucalyptus mint, typical of a good Merlot. A hint of chocolate in the finish. Should improve with age. A good barbecue wine at a great price."
"Youthful, herbal, fruity, and medium full bodied; a wine with decent flavor and good balance. Great value. [2003-2004]" * * * * +
"Recommended and Great Value - I have been impressed recently with wines from Chile from both the high and low end of the price range. The Walnut Crest merlot is a winner and displays aromas of black cherry, plum and spice. The flavors are soft on the palate with a wonderful taste of black cherry fruit. This is a very forward wine and delicious to drink now. I enjoyed this wine with ricotta cheese-filled manicotti with a basil, tomato and meat sauce." Good
"Oh wow. Have you heard people talk about licorice? Try this. Unusually good black currant and blueberry fruit, and warm velvety mouthfeel, with a very distinctive herbal, licorice quality. Made me rethink my opinion of Merlot. Really nice, long complex finish. Nobody will guess what you paid for it."
"...one of the most appealing and food-friendly red wines in its price range, since it has pleasantly rounded dark fruit flavors accompanied by hints of mint and brown spice, a smooth texture and a fruit forward-finish."
"Deep purple in color, this Chilean Merlot has good legs and an interesting nose redolent with green bell pepper, crushed black pepper, and red cherry. Light bodied with mild tannins, this wine has a silky mouthfeel. It offers tart cherry flavors, with hints of green bell pepper, that eventually give way to spice. It has a good finish with spice notes. This wine's deep color belies its delicacy. Given its price, this Merlot is a great value." Wine of the Week
"Elegant, with plenty of vegetable and fruit flavours on the nose, instead of oak, and a very smooth medium body that is unmistakably Merlot."
Silver Medal
"...a soft and fruity red wine made with 100 percent Merlot grapes from the Rapel Valley. This is one of those nicely priced red wines that go with just about anything... Try this one, you'll enjoy it."
"A simple, easy-to-drink value from Chile; lots of jammy fruit; hardly any tannins." *** 85
"Very fresh and fruity, no oak, juicy and delicious like a Gamay."
"A Beaujolais style of Merlot, this fresh and simple red makes for pleasing everyday drinking."
"Supple, fruity and fairly smooth, this enticing Chilean red goes down rather easily."
"The bright, youthful color predicts the primary grapey flavors of this Merlot, a simple, plumy red for beef empanadas." Good Value
"...an extremely reasonably priced wine, and don't think it's not good - it is. A nice dry red with a bouquet of eucalyptus, soft tannins and fruity cherry flavors makes this wine great for unexpected guests."
"A Beaujolais style of Merlot, this fresh and simple red makes for pleasing everyday drinking. Good value."
"Aromas of red cherries and plum with a hint of alcohol. Good red fruit on the palate with a kiss of oak. Some fruit comes through to the delicate finish. This is a well-made wine with light and simple fruit flavors. Good value."
"Lovely aromas of cherries and wet wood. Blackberry and cherry flavors up front, followed by sharp but pleasing tannins and notes of oak; graceful, long finish. Excellent with strong cheeses."
"...a remarkable value."
"A recent article in a major consumer-oriented magazine pointed out many winners. A well-known favorite, the Walnut Crest Merlot from Chile was featured and we had to 'reevaluate' a bottle. It did not last long. What a great deal..."
"...no doubt ranks among the best Merlots produced under this label to date. Benefiting from what is being universally hailed as an outstanding Chilean vintage, its deep purple color, soft, smooth entry, low acidity, and clean, ripe fruit that recalls dark cherries and plums, all make for a dry red wine that brings one word to mind - underpriced."
"Lots of minty, herbaceous characters, with a touch of forest floor and twigs. Its appeal lies in the structure, which is extremely soft and supple, and warm flavours that mix dried cherries and a touch of chocolate."
"This quaffable Merlot sports bell pepper, plum and tobacco notes." 82
"Walnut Crest Merlot is one of those little gifts of the wine world: a real red wine for just what you'd hoped to pay for it. It's always been a good wine; this vintage seems a little better. Typically Rapel in its smoothness and fine grape flavors of cassis, it also has a light touch of caramelized oak to balance. This is nothing more than a fresh, light and easy Chilean Merlot that does everything right. The sooner you drink it, the more you'll get out of it." 86
"A fresh, very fruity Merlot, with lots of cherry and raspberry character, light tannins and a smooth texture. Just right for tonight."
"Harmonious, with plum and cassis flavors, ripe tannins and well-integrated smoke notes." 87
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