Brookland Valley 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2004 wine review by Billy and NW

Billy:
Nose: earthy (like wet loam) with some cherry notes and a smoked cedar spiciness
Palate: even balance between structural acids at the core with a nice tannin feel at the edges of the mouth. Not as thick or beefy as other pure cabs or pure merlots. Almost as if the weightiness of each minimizes the thickness of the other yielding a pleasing feel.
Finish: warm and slightly spicy of basil and licorice
Overall: a wonderful treat brought back from down under!

NW:
Nose:currants, olives, dry earth, smokey notes
Palate:full bodied and dry on the palate
Finish:more currants on the finish with woody and mineral tones.
Overall: Here is a well made Margaret River red that is interesting and dry, with layers that unfold seamlessly in the glass.

Thoughts: This Brookland Valley Cab Merlot from 2004 is from the Margaret River area in Western Australia. Even though I was in Perth the week before I bought this wine, I found it in Sydney. I brought it back as a special memento. Tonight seemed like a great night to open it with NW in town and the fetching Mrs. Billy with us to try the wine and is enjoying it. I believe I bought it for about $45 AU. I've not seen it here in the US. It is one advantage to being able to travel for work.

2003 Twomey Napa Merlot wine review by Billy

Nose: coffee, cherry, blackberry, tobacco
Palate: smooth berry and tannic. Fine soft balance.
Finish: green finish with warm cherry and dry tobacco emerginglate.

Overall: a very finely crafted merlot.

2003 Northstar Merlot, Columbia Valley Wine Review by Billy

(2002 depicted)

Nose:big round soft berries and poached brandied pear smells (really!) Unique for Merlot but interesting. Oaky vanilla.
Palate:huge rich core of peppery cedar. Well balanced with prominent acid and very soft tannins.
Finish: vanilla and cherry.

Overall: an elegant and subtle Merlot. Unpretentious when decanted and soft on the palate with simple yet elegant flavors.

Wiens Cellars Merlot 2002 wine review by Billy

Nose: tobacco, licorice, black currant, cherry and black pepper.

Palate: warm and well structured with a big mouth feel. Balanced with a pleasing tannins and some cranberry-esque peak at the back.

Finish: smooth finish with crushed cherry and cedar for a lingering velvety warmth.

I simply adore this wine. It is big, fruit forward but with more character and structure than is typical of many new world wines. I bought this from the winery which is located in Temecula California though the grapes came from the Lodi region (of jug fame). But do not be mistaken, this is no jug wine. This is a fantastically crafted work of mouth-pleasing art. Sadly the 2002 is sold out but if the Wiens family can continue this excellence they may well be responsible for bringing Temecula wines back in vogue.

If you have a bottle, it can continue to lay down for at least another year if not more. This bottle was youthful and bursting. With breathing it rounded and gained character. With cellaring,it will gain even more character and rounding without giving up the fruit.

I raise my glass to Wiens!